Lourdes Grotto Eikelberg

Here you can take a moment of reflection, sitting on a bench.

Mary's cave located on the southern slope of the Eikelberg surrounded by trees in the protected nature reserve "De Eikelberg". The cave was founded in 1954 (see date on the altar: "KWB/ 1954") by the "Christian Workers Movement". The construction of the Marian Grotto took place during the last revival of the construction of Lourdes Grottoes in the 1950s-1960s.

The placement took place at the insistence of Pastor Bax in consultation with the board of the workers' union. The then mayor of den Eynde de Rivieren made land available. According to the literature, the material for the construction would come from the broken up road in Putkapel (Wilsele), possibly cheap demolition material was used in the core of the cave. The dedication took place on August 15, 1954.

The cave is made of irregular Walloon natural stone blocks and is 5 meters high and 13 meters wide. Top right Marianis with simple statue of Mary. The altar in the niche consists of a bluestone slab on white natural stone supported by two white natural stone pedestals. Triangular bluestone shield under altar with inscription: "KWB/ 1954". On an old postcard there is an image of Bernadette Soubirou to the left in front of the cave as well as some simple benches, image disappeared today.

Immovable Heritage Inventory: Marian Caves, id.erfgoed.net/themas/17293

Feel like reflecting, then you're in the right place...