LOURDES
Stirring and surprising
Why visit Lourdes?
- World-renowned spiritual site.
- Friendly town welcoming pilgrims and visitors alike with open arms.
- Multi-faceted Pyrenean market town with the Gave de Pau river running through it.
- Gateway to top Pyrenean sites and mountain sports.
MUST-DOS
Experience spiritual emotion in Lourdes
Explore a Pyrenean town that has become one of the biggest pilgrimage sites in the world. It all began when the Virgin Mary started appearing to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858. Step into Notre-Dame de Lourdes Sanctuary. Go past the Cave of Apparitions. Then gaze at the 3 basilicas: look up to the stained-glass depicting the Immaculate Conception, admire the Venetian mosaics at Notre-Dame-du-Rosaire, go down to the underground Saint Pie X Basilica… Emotion and passion run high to create a unique atmosphere.
Join a torchlight procession every evening from April to October. It's an incredible chance for believers and non-believers from all countries and creeds to experience something special together.
THE OTHER SIDE OF LOURDES
Explore a Pyrenean fortress
It's waiting for you on its rocky peak: the unmissable Lourdes Fortress. Climb onto its upper platform ("the southern horseman"): the views are stunning over the town, Sanctuary, 22 riverside religious sites and the Pyrenees. The fortress is a barrier between France and Spain, a giant protector for trade routes and local populations which bravely lived up to its military calling between the 11th and 19th century. It is now home to the Pyrenees Museum exploring domestic, rural and pastoral life in the Pyrenees.
FOOTPATHS IN TOWN
Travel back in time in Lourdes
Secret passageways, alleys, houses with galleries and shutters in yellow or blue grey...on foot or by segway, explore a real Pyrenean town that has become the 2nd biggest French town for hotels after Paris. Track down information panels on the footpaths in town to get an insight into the medieval city of Lorda and its bygone monuments. Or follow "Bernadette's life path" to see how the town has changed since the apparitions. Useful: get around using the “Patrimoine en balade” mobile app.
Handy leaflets in the form of treasure hunts to visit the town, fun-filled trails at Lourdes Fortress and Pic du Jer: bring the family to Lourdes.
PIC DU JER CABLE CAR
For 360° views of the Pyrenees
You'll recognise it from the crucifix at its peak as the Pic du Jer overlooks the town from its 900m altitude. Take a 100 year old cable car to the top: a magical journey. When you get there you'll find a footpath to the Observatory. Take a deep breath of fresh mountain air and enjoy. Look down over Lourdes, the Gaves Valley, the Pyrenean peaks and more. The Pic du Jer is also a famous mountain cycling spot with 2 pistes, one for expert cyclists and the other for families. So bring your bikes on board the cable car.
LOURDES LAKE
Relaxation and sport
Lourdes Lake is a breath of fresh air just 3km from the town centre. There are 50 hectares of clear water and leafy banks to unwind, have a picnic beneath the trees, hike, fish or play a round of golf. Go on a pedalo, stand-up paddle or canoe trip: make the most of it to reach the bog, a Natura 2000 site, on the other side of the lake. In summer you cn swim within the safety perimeter and watch the sun set over the Pyrenees.
Bring your hiking boots! Here are 2 hiking trails among the many to choose from around Lourdes: the Piémont Pyrénéen (GR®78) to Santiago de Compostela or the Gaves Green Path between Lourdes and Cauterets.
Find out more
Foodie tour of Lourdes
Take a break from the halo of light around Lourdes and come back to earthly pleasures. Experience the town's food culture in its markets packed with local produce: mountain cured meat and cheese, Gascon Black pork, Tarbes beans, Pyrenean trout, Pyrenean lamb, Madiran wine etc. Vidéo © TourismeLourdes
Our selection
Petite sélection d'hébergements pour un Grand Site Occitanie : Lourdes (2ème ville hôtelière de France après Paris !).
Longitude: 0.046268000000
Lourdes is in the Hautes-Pyrénées, 23km from Tarbes.
- By car: on the A64 (Toulouse / Tarbes / Pau).
- By train: to Lourdes station. 4 daily Paris-Lourdes TGV connections. Direct connections to/from Bordeaux / Toulouse / Montpellier / Marseille / Nice / Lyon / Hendaye / Geneva / Irun.
- By plane: from Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées (10km) and Pau-Pyrénées Airports (45km).