Friday 7th July 2006,

Opening of the Museum in Espace Bernadette

The time had come to renovate the Museum so that all those who come to Nevers – pilgrims,
visitors, tourists – may become acquainted with Bernadette, who lived here, so simply.

“To dream up the idea of a route or a journey designed with a contemporary approach which
would appeal to minds and hearts today, required serious thought. We had to really want and
hope for an adventure in holiness of which we are all capable!”

(François Destors, architecte de
l’Atelier de Forges)

Today men and women from all over the world come to “encounter” Bernadette. At Lourdes she
had been transfixed by the respect with which Aquero addressed her at Massabielle: “She
looked at me, just like two people in conversation”

As a member of The Congregation here in Nevers, Bernadette followed the Gospel path traced by Jean Baptiste Delaveyne, through an ordinary simple life.

This work of renovation has been carried out thanks to a contribution from

The National Fund for
Area Development,
the General Council of the Nievre
as well as The Regional Council of the Bourgogne..