In the pilgrimage town of Lourdes, in the Occitanie region of France

 “We must never stop dreaming. Dreams provide nourishment for the soul, just as a meal does for the body.” ― Paulo Coelho, The Pilgrimage

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(in the foothills of the Pyrenees, in the Occitanie region of France) The pilgrimage town of Lourdes, straddling both banks of the Gave de Pau River at the foot of the mountains, served as a strategic stronghold in medieval times. During the Hundred Years’ War the French captured it from the English in 1406, after an 18-month siege. The contemporary importance of Lourdes, however, dates from 1858, during which year, from February 11th to July 16th, Bernadette Soubirous, a 14-year-old girl, had many visions of the Virgin Mary in the nearby Massabielle grotto, on the left bank of the stream. The visions were declared authentic by Pope Pius IX in 1862, and veneration of Mary as Our Lady of Lourdes was authorized. The underground spring in the grotto, revealed to Bernadette, was declared to have miraculous qualities, and Lourdes became a major pilgrimage center. The basilica, built above the grotto in 1876, eventually became overcrowded by the increasing number of pilgrims, and in 1958 a large concrete (underground) church was dedicated. Lourdes is visited by millions every (normal) year, and tourism plays a big role in the local economy.