We had our first Mass scheduled here upon arrival in the afternoon.

The outside terrace looked down to the Rosary Square below and to the front of the perimeter, 1M away, over the beautiful golden dome with a cross; the top terrace was connected by two huge inclined walkways to the ground level, the images from overhead night candle possession were positioned from here, like a big balcony.

The inside Basilica looked like small Chapel with thick walls, we went to the main tunnel entrance of about 50ft to go inside. The inside was warm with color, gold touch with beautiful designs. The top of the Basilica with towering steeples could be reached by stairways, and not connected to the Basilica of Immaculate Conception below from the inside, the we all missed the viewing part of this church.


____________________The Crypt Chapel of Upper Basilica_____________________
The Basilica of Immaculate Conception

The Basilica known widely as the Upper Basilica, was the second of the churches to be completed. It was consecrated in 1876. It is an impressive, elaborate building in Gothic style, designed by architect Hyppolyte Durand, and on one side seems to emerge directly from the rock of Massabielle (the sanctuary is directly above the Grotto). The walls are lined with ex voto plaques, and banners from official National Pilgrimages of the past. It has a series of stained glass windows depicting various events in the story of Lourdes, and the clerestory windows depict Mary as the Second Eve.

The exterior is dominated by a 70m spire, and two lesser spires. Above the entrance is a mosaic depicting Pope Pius IX, who defined the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854. The clock plays the Ave Maria hourly, and chimes the hours with a 2-ton bell called Jeanne-Alphonsine. The other bells in the tower are named Genevieve-Felicie (weighing 1800 kg), Hermine-Benoete (1100 kg), and Cecile-Gastine (800 kg).


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