The forested foothills of the Pyrenees mountains provide storybook surroundings for one of Europe's most significant Catholic pilgrimage sites. Pilgrims flock to bathe in the holy water, said to cure all manner of ailments, but even non-believers will be enraptured by the glorious Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, with its Gothic spires and sacred Grotto of Massabielle. Drinking in the mountain views from the hilltop Château Fort and Pic du Jer funicular and joining the congregation for the nightly torchlight procession are other top things to do in Lourdes.
Pilgrimage season spans half the year, from April to October, attracting between four and six million visitors to the shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes. The most important date is August 15, the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, a day that marks the Virgin Mary’s ascent to heaven at the end of her life. Many pilgrims visit with their dioceses. Outside of the pilgrimage season, Lourdes attracts plenty of visitors on February 11, the anniversary of the first Marian apparition.
It’s traditional to arrive in Lourdes as a pilgrim on foot, and many people will continue from here along the Camino de Santiago all the way to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, 527 miles (848 kilometers) away. Since the water at Lourdes is said to hold curative powers, many people who are sick or have disabilities travel here, helped by family, friends, or volunteer carers. There are six bus lines that link most of the town.
Lourdes dishes up plenty of delicacies for hungry pilgrims. Cassoulet, a slow-cooked meat and white bean stew, is one of the specialties here. Le Navarre bistro serves generous portions bursting with flavor, but save room for the (super-sized) dessert. (If you’re struggling to choose, opt for the café gourmand, which comes with coffee and an arrangement of mini treats.) Looking for thrills? White-water rafting on the Gave de Pau is excellent.
