Places to visit

Lourdes grotto

Kretinga Lourdes Grotto is a haven of peace in the centre of the town. The place, wrapped in legends, is loved by believers and those seeking some quiet. Franciscans built Kretinga Lourdes Grotto in 1933, when the real Lourdes in France celebrated its 75th anniversary. The only difference is that the Virgin Mary appeared to children in the grotto in France. Such a miracle has not occurred in Kretinga, but it is believed that the spring flowing near the grotto has been miraculous and healing since ancient times. During the opening ceremony, Kretinga Lourdes, built from the stones of a demolished brewery, attracted even 25 thousand people praying from all over Lithuania. A white marble altar in Lourdes Grotto was destroyed during the war and the Soviet period, but the sculptures that decorated the grotto have survived to this day. Various festive celebrations of the Franciscan Gymnasium take place in Blessed Mary Square, which is in front of the Lourdes Grotto. Nevertheless, on weekdays this place is not only a quiet place of rest but also one of the most picturesque corners of the town.