Itineraries for Your Trip to Lourdes
3 Days in Lourdes for First Timers
Historical Lourdes has long been a pilgrimage site, and if it enticed people to traverse the Pyrenees on foot, that’s enough of an incentive for me. City of saints, Lourdes is steeped in history. It’s said that in 1858, the Virgin Mary appeared to a local peasant girl Bernadette Soubirous, and this legend has made it one of the most important Catholic sites in the country.
The city isn’t all religious history though. In the foothills of the Pyrenees, Lourdes is where you can soak up all the delights of the city and crisp mountain air on the same trip. Châteaux, medieval streets, and religious art make for a trip that is as cultural as it is scenic.
Pack for all seasons: Rain, snow and sun are all possible within a day.
If you only have time for one thing, make it the iconic Virgin Mary statue.
In France, the Alps often take center stage with their abundance of ski resorts and imposing Mont Blanc. Yet, as you arrive by plane, you'll note an equal marvel—the Pyrenees, France’s other epic mountain range straddling the France-Spain border. Along with mountain chalets there are crumbling forts, religious history, and hidden artists studios. After transferring to your hotel (roughly a half-hour journey), start by visiting an artist’s studio in a traditional Pyrenees barn to enjoy the panoramic mountain vista.
Going to see where the Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous is a must, whether you believe the stories or not. Soubirous was canonized after the apparition, and it irrevocably changed the face of Lourdes. It’s difficult not to be swept up in the spirituality of the place when you look at the needle-like spire of the basilica. Descendants of the Soubirous family still live in Lourdes and you can visit a house belonging to them.
Whistling marmots, deer, foxes—the Pyrenees positively teem with biodiversity. The problem with wildlife is that it won't pose for a photo, so to get snaps that will be the envy of family and friends, take a wildlife photography tour. The guides have a keen eye for spotting illusive fauna. Active travelers shouldn't miss the opportunity to go on a day hike in the mountains. It’s less crowded than the Alps and at no sacrifice to the views.
