One of the main symbols of Kretinga Town – the Lourdes Grotto replica dedicated to the Virgin Mary – was opened on 2 August 1933, in the presence of the then President of the Republic of Lithuania, Antanas Smetona, the Minister of Defence, Balys Giedraitis, and 25 thousand believers from all over Lithuania.
The idea behind the creation of the grotto was to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Virgin Mary’s apparition in Lourdes, France. A priest, Augustinas Dirvelė, thought of creating a grotto in Kretinga, in the valley of the Dopultis (Pastauninkas) Stream, and the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes was placed on the high opening of the grotto near a monastery. On the other, lower side of the grotto, a statue of kneeling St. Bernadette holding a candle looks up at the Virgin Mary. Both statues were brought to Kretinga from France.