Lourdes

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Town in the département of Hautes-Pyrénées in the Midi-Pyrénées region of southwest France, on the Gave de Pau River; population (1999 est) 15,600. Its Christian shrine to St Bernadette has a reputation for miraculous cures from illness, and Lourdes is an important centre for Roman Catholic pilgrimage. In 1858, a young peasant girl, Bernadette Soubirous, claimed to have been shown the healing springs of the Grotte de Massabielle by the Virgin Mary, who visited her on 18 occasions between 11 February and 16 July.

Blue represents the sky and the sea. Yellow symbolizes the sun which gives light and life. Red reflects the people and their determination to work in the future in unity and love. White stands for justice and harmony. Green recalls the land and nature. Effective date: 8 January 1996. >>