Marian Grotto at University of Mary emulating a piece of history
Inspired by a famous grotto in France, the newly constructed Marian Grotto at University of Mary in Bismarck, ND, features a traditional design created from Glacial Till granite
The University of Mary is a private, Christian, Catholic and Benedictine university near Bismarck, ND, which was established 60 years ago. Originally known as Mary College, the University is the largest degree-granting institution in Bismarck.
For its new outdoor grotto, known as Marian Grotto, architects drew inspiration from the renowned Grotto of Massabielle in Lourdes, France. “Over the centuries, the swift-flowing Gave de Pau river has eroded a cavern into the side of the mountain. And it was in this grotto in 1858 that the young girl, Bernadette Soubirous, had numerous visions of Mary, the mother of Jesus,” explained architect, Adam Hermanson, owner of Integration Design Group in Arvada, CO. “The site of the apparitions is a major pilgrimage destination and has witnessed a countless number of miraculous healings. The miracles are connected with the water that flows from a spring inside the grotto. Natural stone, arranged in a flowing composition, was central to the design concept of this new grotto.”