Between February 11 and July 16, 1858, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared eighteen times to fourteen-year-old Bernadette Soubirous in this small town nestled in the hills of the Pyrenees in southern France. The lady identified herself as the "Immaculate Conception" and requested the construction of a chapel. A spring of water emerged at the site, which many believe to have healing properties. Over the years, thousands of people have reported cures after visiting Lourdes. While many of these healings remain personal testimonies, the local museum documents several unexplained cures. These include the instant healing of Pierre de Rudder’s fractured leg in 1875, Gabrielle Latour’s recovery from tuberculous peritonitis in 1901, and the sudden improvement of Jean-Pierre Bély from multiple sclerosis in 1987, among others. The site has become one of the most visited pilgrimage destinations in the world, attracting visitors year-round — both believers and the curious — drawn by its reputedly miraculous waters.