A Guide to Lourdes

Located 20 miles from Pau Lourdes has developed its reputation for its healing properties. The area is one of the most visited in the region. It was made famous by Bernadette Soubirous who reportedly had 18 visions of the Virgin Mary and so many come to the area hoping for a miraculous cure for serious ailments.

The area has been the site of many pilgrimages dating back from 1873. Many of the cities major attractions are religiously based such as the Musee Grevin, which holds an exhibition of wax works of the lives of Bernadette and Christ. There are also two Basilicas one of which is the subterranean Basilique St-Pie-X which claims to be able to hold at any one time 20 000 people.

The only non-religious building in the area is the castle sitting on top of the rocks guarding the gateway to the valleys and the Pyrenees. It is also home to the Musee Pyreneen with a mixture of Fauna, farming equipment and the history of mountaineering in the Pyrenees.

Lourdes is a very quiet and sleepy town designed as a place to relax and soak up the atmosphere.