Kerkrade - Lourdes Grotto - Haanrade

Haanrade is a hamlet within the municipality of Kerkrade and is located in the southeast of Limburg, near the border with Germany.

In 1940, a Lourdes grotto was built behind the Sacred Heart of Jesus church. The initiative came from Leonard (Leonardus Joseph) Thomas (1891-1944), rector and building pastor of Haanrade (1925-1943). Miners ensured the realisation of the grotto. For this purpose, they used stones from the Domaniale mine in Kerkrade, which operated until 1969.

In 2020, the church, which is a listed national monument, will be deconsecrated.

During a visit to the Lourdes grotto in August 2025, it is quite a challenge to get to the grotto. The grotto is barely accessible due to fallen trees, large thorny bushes, and a lot of weeds. This wilderness seems to prevent visits. It is a shame that no effort is made to keep the Lourdes grotto accessible. That the church is empty should not be an obstacle to keeping the Lourdes grotto in honour. The image of Mary stands high in the grotto, and a statue of seer Bernadette Soubirous is missing. The grotto is not a copy of the Lourdes grotto from the French pilgrimage site, but a rather free interpretation of a large grotto, which makes it unique.

Address: Meuserstraat 151, 6464ED Haanrade, Kerkrade.

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