Lourdes

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. Photos Br Lawrence Lew, OP.

Lourdes (can be pronounced either "lourde" or "lourdz") is a small town in the Hautes-Pyrénées département in southwest France. Lourdes is the largest Catholic pilgrimage destination in France, and one of the most popular Catholic shrines in the world.

Lourdes lies 497 miles south of Paris in the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains. The small town of only 17,000 inhabitants receives more than 5 million pilgrims and tourists each year because of a set of visions reported by a young girl named Bernadette in 1858. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes incorporates 52 hectares of property and 22 places of worship, including the sacred grotto, two basilicas, and a variety of buildings for pilgrims and the sick. Outside the sanctuary, many pilgrims also visit the Lourdes home of the young visionary, St. Bernadette.

City Guide & Travel Resources

	Lourdes Map Our highly detailed interactive map of the sanctuary at Lourdes, including high-resolution aerial imagery.
	Lourdes History A history of the visions of the Virgin Mary at Lourdes.
	The Lourdes Pilgrimage An overview of pilgrimages to Lourdes.
	Lourdes Hotel Bookings Find and book a hotel in Lourdes.
	Lourdes Hotel Reviews Read unbiased reviews and compare prices on hotels in Lourdes.
	Lourdes Travel Forum Get travel advice and insider tips on Lourdes from fellow travelers.

Sacred Sites & Religious Places

	Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Situated on top of the rock above the Grotto and behind the Basilica of the Rosary, this was the first basilica to be built in Lourdes. It was constructed between 1866 and 1872.
	Basilica of the Rosary The lower of the two main basilicas at Lourdes, the Basilica of the Rosary was completed in 1901. Inside, mosaic panels illustrate each of the 15 mysteries.
	Grotto of Massabielle The holiest site at Lourdes, this is the grotto in which Mary appeared to Bernadette in 1858 and the source of the shrine's healing waters.
	St. Bernadette's Family Home The house of Bernadette Soubirous and her parents is a now a museum, which includes a mill, a kitchen, Bernadette's bedroom and family photographs.

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