The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception

Situated on top of the rock above the Grotto, it was designed by Hippolyte Durand and was constructed between 1866 and 1872. On the front, circular panel is a circular panel with the image of Pope Pius X smiling gently and holding in his left hand the decree of November 13, 1907, by which the Mass of the Apparition of Our Lady of Lourdes is extended to the Universal Church. The lower circular panel, above the entrance to the Crypt, represents Pope Pius IX who proclaimed the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854.
At the entrance on the right is a marble plaque containing the complete text of the judgement made by Mgr Laurence, recognising the Apparitions as authentic. The Altar of the Basilica is directly over the place of Apparition. The stained glass windows recall the story of the Blessed Virgin from the beginning to the declaration of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception, in 1854, by Pope Pius IX and of the Apparitions of Lourdes in 1858.

Some statistics: The Bell Tower is 70 m. high and the capacity is 550 seats and 5 wheelchairs.
There are four main bells: Jeanne-Alphonsine (2,000 kg.), Genevičve-Félicie (1,800 kg.), Hermine-Benoîte (1,100 kg.), Cécile-Gastine (800 kg.). They form the peal of bells of the Upper Basilica and every hour it plays the "Ave Maria of Lourdes".