The town of Lourdes in the Pyrenees region of France has been a major global pilgrimage destination since 1858, the site of several Marian apparitions. Every year, millions of pilgrims and visitors come to this hallowed location in search of solace, healing, and spiritual rejuvenation. Regardless of your background, you will experience a real feeling of tranquility here.
This year, I am one of those millions of pilgrims. It has been a long time coming and I am pleased that I finally managed to get there in time for my 50th birth year. It took a lot of research months before booking the trip and the last few weeks leading to it. This travel guide to Lourdes is by no means exhaustive, hopefully, it will serve as a springboard for planning your pilgrimage there.
Getting there:
The nearest airport is Tarbes Lourdes Pyrenees airport. We flew with Ryaniar from London Stansted Airport. Flight time is 1.5 hours. Other airlines that fly this route from London are Easyjet, Vueling and British Airways, A shuttle bus from Tarbes airport goes to Lourdes city centre. You can take it from the bus stop which is located to the right as you come out of the airport. The schedule coincides with the flights so there is not much waiting involved. It takes around 20 minutes and costs €3 per passenger for a single fare. There are taxis available but when the shuttle bus is nice, clean, airconditioned, and comfortable, why bother looking for a taxi.
Getting around:
The points of interest in Lourdes are within walking distance. The train station is a17-minute walk from the shrine if you want to venture outside of Lourdes for a day trip, which is what we did.
Currency:
The Euro (€) is the currency used in France. The majority of locations accept cards, but it's still a good idea to have cash. Coins are useful for a little tip, but they are not required.
When to visit:
I would suggest visiting between April and October as some highlights, such as the Torch Light procession and the Eucharistic procession, do not take place in the Winter months.
Where to stay:
We stayed at the 4-star Grand Hotel Gallia & Londres Spa which is located in the center of Lourdes, near the entrance to the sanctuaries. It is best to book a hotel that is close to the sanctuary as there are different schedule of activities and celebrations throughout each day and it would be handy to be able to go back to your hotel to rest in between.
Except for Paris, no other French city has as many hotels per square kilometer as Lourdes does so there would not be a problem getting one.
Where to eat:
Explore the town's market (Les Halles) to sample local cheeses and gâteau à la broche des Pyrénées, a cake as distinctive as the town itself.
If you do not have the luxury of time to take a stroll to the market, there are plenty of restaurants and cafes in the area. From the riverside restaurant Riviera Sol to the comforting Asian Delice (Filipino) restaurant, and the pizzas and pastas served by several Italian restaurants, there is so much variety to choose from and at reasonable prices. They are also all within walking distance from the sanctuary.
Top Things To Do
01. Chemin De Croix
This is a picturesque stations of the cross route that circles a hill for 1.5 kilometers, stopping at 15 stations of iron sculptures depicting the events of the passion of Christ.
02. Torch Light Procession
An illuminated procession is held after dark every night at 9 pm, in which thousands of pilgrims carry candles from the Grotto of Apparitions to the esplanade of the Rosary Basilica with the statue of the Virgin Mary ahead of it.
03. Grotte De Massabille
The spring that Bernadette found is located inside the Massabielle Grotto, which is also the location where the apparitions took place. Praying the rosary at this exact location of the Marian apparitions was one of the highlights of my trip. It was a very enriching experience.
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