The Grotto in Lourdes is the chief attraction for tourists and believers in the south-western part of France. The site of the famous vision of St Bernadette of Mother Mary in 1858, a visit to the Grotto is mandatory if you are in the area. The shrine cave itself is a stark relief present in the premises of the Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral and a spring runs through the cave which holds high religious significance. If you visit at a time when the mass is not being said, you can walk up to the grotto and touch the rocks under the statue, a ritual followed by every visitor to the site.