Nestled in the heart of a forest, visible along a path, or sheltered at the foot of a shrine, miraculous springs irrigate many villages in France. Each region can be proud to have at least one, if not several, with a healing power that is, for some, measureless.
The origin of these miraculous waters is often based on local traditions that are difficult to verify. At one location it’s a saint who made a spring well up; elsewhere it’s the Virgin Mary herself. These “miracles” are sometimes so popular that they have led to the creation of shrines where many faithful still flock every year.
While the curative virtues of these waters are not scientifically proven, their presence testifies nonetheless to a popular faith that many inhabitants, believers or not, hold dear. For some, these springs also embody hope: the hope of a cure, of the body or at least of the soul.
To discover our selection of shrines built near a miraculous spring, click on the slideshow:
