I recall with special fondness something that may seem small and trivial in comparison—all those shops selling Virgin Mary souvenirs. Though small and inexpensive, those tokens carry a powerful message: they are a reminder that the broken and wounded will be the first to enter the Kingdom of God, that miracles are possible even when the darkness seems overwhelming, and that the most unlikely among us can receive a life-changing vision of light.
One of the chapters focuses on Lourdes and its influence on my own spiritual life. Located in the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains near the Spanish border, Lourdes has a population of just 15, but more hotels than any other French city except Paris. The main pilgrimage season in Lourdes runs from Easter through the end of October. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes is open 24 hours every day, and admission is free. The airport is 10 minutes from the downtown.
Lodging : A wide variety of lodgings are available in Lourdes, including accommodations for the sick. The Best Western Lourdes Hotel offers accommodations near the train depot and within walking distance of the shrine. Hiking trails wind amid , acres of jagged peaks, alpine meadows, and waterfalls. Rare fauna in the park include the isard—a species of antelope—and Pyrenean bear, as well as soaring Egyptian and griffon vultures.
In the ski resort town of Cauterets 20 miles from Lourdes, hot springs offer rejuvenation for footsore mountain explorers. Her website Spiritual Travels features holy sites around the world. Skip to content. Lourdes is one of the most-visited pilgrimage sites in the world. Lori Erickson photo Each year the French shrine of Lourdes draws millions of visitors from around the world.
Collecting water from the spring at Lourdes Lori Erickson photo While Lourdes has clearly changed from the time Bernadette saw the first vision, the heart of the grotto remains essentially the same. Seeking Healing Miracles The diversity of people was striking: nuns in long habits, elderly couples, young people traveling in groups, elegant Italian women in fur coats, and groups of men holding large banners aloft bearing the names of their cities and churches.
There are a number of stories from Lourdes about the apparitions of Virgin Mary in the mids, who is said to have appeared to a peasant girl named Bernadette Soubirous. Lourdes soon became one of the most popular pilgrimage places in France.
The sacred pilgrimage sites and the gorgeous landscapes in form of high mountains, green valleys, hidden waterfalls, lakes make it a popular tourist destination with plenty of great things to do in and around Lourdes. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes is a verdant area that surrounds the catholic shrine in the town of Lourdes. It is one of the most important and popular pilgrimage destinations in the city and is known for miraculous healing water.
It is managed by Roman Catholic Church. The history of the place lies in the fact that in a year old girl named Bernadette Soubirous saw apparitions of Virgin Mary who introduced self as Immaculate Conception. The grotto is a hot spot for pilgrims who come to take a dip in the freezing pool or light a candle.
The Grotto of Massabielle is the most sacred site located at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes and is known for the caves of apparitions. As per the story, the Virgin Mary pointed out to the spring in the grotto and instructed Bernadette to drink water from it. The Roman Catholic Church is known for its healing power. The faith and trust of millions of people bring them here every year. It is a peaceful and tranquil spot with amazing ambiance and peaceful surroundings.
The historic castle of Lourdes is a iconic monument that is located at the entrance to seven valleys of the Lavedan. The castle has its origin from the Roman times and there are many historic remains in form of sculptures, wall foundation etc.
There is some fortification work that dates back to 11th and 12th centuries and the castle was reinforced in the 13th and the 14th century. It is a spectacular attraction perched on top of a hill at the edge of the city. It houses a museum showing local art and artifacts. Photo by fr. It is at a certain height and one can reach there with help of a cable car.
It opens you to magnificent and absolutely stunning of the city from the top. Sit inside in peace and enjoy the tranquil while admiring the beauty of the architecture. The effects of the apparition are certainly enormous, especially after the Catholic Church confirmed the apparitions in A shrine was built there and was soon designated as one of the pilgrimage destinations of Roman Catholics around the world.
People also take home or bathe in its spring water which is believed to have healing effects. The term Immaculate Conception was said by Mary as she introduced herself to Bernadette. As for Bernadette herself, she entered into a religious order 8 years later and celebrated as one of the saints of the Church.
Lourdes is mainly mild, especially compared to Paris or northern France, and relatively rainy, regardless of the season. That said sunny or partly cloudy days can be especially easier to be found in the summer. There are several trains and buses connecting Lourdes to other French cities. It is also easily accessible by car, and close to the border with Spain. Lourdes is about 9 hours from Paris via Toulouse and the A Lourdes is easily accessed by car, although the narrow streets around the holy sites can become quite congested at weekends and holy days.
Roads from the Southwest of France and from Spain are also good. On your GPS, make sure that you put the silent s with no apostrophe or you may end up in a village far away there are several of them. Many foreigners make mistakes to the amusement of the other villages. Lourdes station Gare de Lourdes is a few hundred metres from the town centre, and offers easy access and clear signs to the Domaine area look for signs indicating "La Grotte" and "Massabielle". Accessibility is excellent due to the large number of infirm and disabled pilgrims who visit Lourdes and many trains passing through Lourdes offer special services for the disabled.
Organized tour groups from all around the world may have dedicated coaches and even priests as tour guides that take them to town. Coach arrivals from the UK and Ireland into Lourdes are charters, run by specific travel agencies or charity organisations for organised Pilgrim groups. The nearest airport is Tarbes-Lourdes , approximately twenty minutes' drive from the town itself. Air France and its low-cost subsidiary HOP! There are other nearby airports with more flights, all of which require a transfer by train to Lourdes at the respective cities' train station:.
Due to the small area of the town, most destinations can be reached on foot. Some buses do seasonal runs between the train station and some of the biggest or furthest hotels. The Gave de Pau river splits the city into two.
The east are where most of the shops and hotels are. The west part contains the Sanctuary complex and a number of high-end hotels a short walk away. The downtown area comprises of an area south of the train station and north of Avenue Marechal Juin. Lourdes is a pedestrian-friendly city with several pedestrian only streets and it is very easy to get around the town centre. It really is worth walking and exploring.
The town is also used to disabled visitors, help is also readily available. Lourdes has a complicated one-way street system around town and, because many streets are pedestrian only, it can be confusing and time-consuming getting around town.
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