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A replica of the grotto at Lourdes, France, was built on the grounds of Queen of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church at Hostyn, south of La Grange, Texas. The Austin Chronicle reported in 2008 that building began in 1925, and the parish website, as archived in April 2025, still lists it.
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Lourdes Grotto Replica
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Approximate location · 29.782° N, 96.899° W
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The story
At Hostyn, south of La Grange, the grounds of Queen of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church include, according to the parish website as archived in April 2025, a replica of the grotto at Lourdes, France. The page is captioned as a replica of Our Lady of Lourdes. The Austin Chronicle reported in 2008 that parishioners began building it when the drought broke in 1925, that area children donated rocks, shells and marbles, and that souvenir hunters had since removed many pieces.
The church itself was destroyed by an explosion and fire on 9 June 2022; the Fayette County Record later described it as a gas explosion. The Record reported that a groundbreaking for a new church of about $10 million took place in October 2025, with completion expected in spring 2027.
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WHAT TO EXPECT
A devotional shrine on the grounds of an active Catholic parish. A new church has been under construction on the site since a groundbreaking in October 2025 (Fayette County Record), so expect building works. Respect its devotional use.
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On the grounds of Queen of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, FM 2436 at Hostyn, south of La Grange, Texas. Parish office address is 936 FM 2436, La Grange.
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