Lourdes Pilgrimage
The Sanctuaries Notre-Dame de Lourdes, France
Tourism and Religion
Road Trip to Lourdes in Southern France
The town of Lourdes is located in the Midi-Pyrénées region in southern France. Its claim to fame is the Sanctuaries Notre-Dame de Lourdes, or the Domain, a Catholic pilgrimage site.
Millions of people visit the Grotto of Massabielle where, in 1858, the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to Bernadette Soubirous. Religious processions take place daily for most of the year.
The impressive walkways leading us the entrance of the Sanctuaries Notre-Dame de Lourdes
Driving to Lourdes
We were in no rush and the drive to Lourdes took a couple of hours from our base in Boulogne-sur-Gesse. Dozens of little towns, each with a church in the center, were placed along winding roads.
We stopped for croissants, navigated the many roundabouts in Tarbes, stretched our legs, and wondered when the leaves on the trees would spring out. Soon we hope.
Exploring in Lourdes
When we arrived in Lourdes almost everything was closed. It was a cold grey early spring day. We warmed up with a coffee, hot wine, soup, and a crepe au sucre et citron at a café near the river and set out to find out what Lourdes was all about.
As we navigated the narrow streets with the many hotels and souvenir shops it quickly becomes apparent that this is a huge tourist destination.
Sanctuaries Notre-Dame de Lourdes built on top the Grotto of Massabielle
Figurines in all shapes and sizes of the Virgin Mary can be purchased along with hundreds of different types of paraphernalia. Store after store offers what looks like the same selection and right across the street, you can pick up a pizza or a brew at the pub.
It is impressive how the cathedral is built right on top of the cliff and the Grotto of Massabielle. It was a quiet day but in the summertime, all the hotel rooms will be booked and thousands of people will participate in the torchlight procession every evening at 9 pm.
On this cold day, we try to imagine it and conclude it would be quite a sight to have seen.
A gathering at Abri Saint Michel
Our drive home brought us even closer to the Pyrénées. We are talking Tour de France territory here and we passed several riders out for a spring ride. The mountains were covered under a thick blanket of clouds and a few times as the clouds parted we could see snow in the foothills.
In Mauvezin another surprise, a medieval castle, complete with a spiked pole perimeter, appeared out of nowhere and we made it the last stop of the day.
Travel Photography From Lourdes
The roads are perfect for cycling in Southern France
Side streets of Lourdes, France
The impressive walkways leading to the Sanctuaries Notre-Dame de Lourdes
The candles are lit inside the Sanctuaries Notre-Dame de Lourdes
A woman says a prayer in Grotto of Massabielle by Sanctuaries Notre-Dame de Lourdes
A man is having a smoke on the Pont Saint-Michel bridge by the Ousse River in Lourdes
Flower arrangement in Lourdes
Spiked fence at a medieval castle in southern France
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The photos in this article are made using a Fujifilm X-T1. Lenses: XF 14mm f/2.8 R - XF 23mm f/1.4 R - XF 35mm f/2 R WR - XF 90mm f/2 R LM WR (links to my camera and lens reviews). Editing was done in Lightroom and I have made use of Fujifilm film simulations in some of the photos.
