Summary
- History of the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes
- What to see and do at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes?
- - The Grotto
- - The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception
- - The Basilica of the Rosary
- - St. Bernadette Church
- - Swimming pools
- How do I get to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes?
- - Plane + cab
- - By train
- - By bus
- Schedules and fares of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes
- - SCHEDULE
- - PRICES
- FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes
If you are passing through Lourdes, stop to visit the Sanctuary. It is home to Our Lady of Lourdes, which attracts many people every year. In this place there is a holy water that is supposed to cure the sick.
This sanctuary, a place of pilgrimage since the apparitions of 1856, is a magnificent visit that should be made at least once. To make your visit as smooth as possible, here is a brief guide with the key points of this area.
History of the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes
The Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes originated in 1856 when Bernadette Soubirous, a young girl who happened to be out foraging for wood, saw a glowing silhouette of a white woman.
Of course, these claims about the apparitions of the Virgin Mary at Lourdes aroused the curiosity of the Church, which was quick to launch an investigation, led by Monsignor Laurence. After four full years of work and discernment, Bishop Laurence declared, "We judge that the Immaculate Mary, Mother of God, really appeared to Bernadette Soubirous on February 11, 1858, and the following days, eighteen times, in the cave of Massabielle, near the town of Lourdes; that this apparition has all the characteristics of truth, and that the faithful are justified in believing it to be true. "
As soon as this declaration became known, the Church declared the apparitions official. This caused pilgrims to travel hundreds of kilometers to visit the Sanctuary of Notre-Dame de Lourdes, making it the largest Catholic pilgrimage center in France.
Since then, numerous works have been carried out to better welcome the faithful and tourists and, since the spring of 2018, the Grotto, Heart of Lourdes Project has finally been completed. This has allowed, in particular, the installation of a new bridge to rise in case of flooding, but also the construction of a new sacristy and the Chapels of Light.
What to see and do at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes?
Here we are going to tell you everything you can see and do at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes. Take note!
The cave
The cave of Lourdes is the main activity of the farm. According to Bernadette, this is where the Virgin Mary first appeared to her, and many visitors line up to touch the stone there, which brings luck and healing.
The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception
The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is the first to be built and consecrated on the grounds of the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes. This basilica has a total length of 50 meters and a total width of 21 meters, it also has a crypt and several chapels dedicated to religious festivities.
You can visit it freely and admire its numerous works, its particular architecture, its crypt and its chapels.
The Basilica of the Rosary
Designed by the architect Leopold Hardy, the Basilica of the Rosary was completed in 1899. It is located on the grounds of the Sanctuary, being the second to be built in this location.
While it is possible to admire the beautiful architecture of this main basilica, as in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, it should be noted that it is best known for its beautiful mosaics. In particular, the mosaics in the choir depicting the Virgin Mary and those in the fifteen chapels depicting the mysteries of the Rosary.
Church of St. Bernadette
Built opposite the Grotto of Lourdes, on the opposite bank, and consecrated in 1988, the Church of St. Bernadette is a modern building designed so that the maximum amount of natural light can enter its nave.
In addition, to further enhance the brightness of the room, white and light-colored materials were used to furnish the church. This church, unconventional in both its exterior and interior with its geometric and modern forms, is a must-see to complete your tour to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Swimming pools
During a religious pilgrimage to the farm of Our Lady of Lourdes, the passage through the pools is necessary for thousands of faithful who come to the sanctuary. These pools, which look like large stone bathtubs and number sixteen, contain water at 12°C which is blessed and could cure illnesses, both physical and mental.
How to get to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes?
There are several ways to get to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, and its exact address is: 1 Avenue Mgr Théas, 65108 Lourdes.
Plane + cab
If you wish to fly a long distance, you should know that the international airport of Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées is close to Lourdes. You can take a cab to take you there, as it is only 10 kilometers away.
It is also possible to land at the Pau-Pyrénées airport, but it is just over forty kilometers from the farm.
Train
There are many trains available to take you to the Lourdes train station to visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. From Paris or Tarbes, you can take the TGV to Lourdes, or take one of the direct trains from Bordeaux, Toulouse, Montpellier, Marseille, Nice, Lyon, Geneva or Hendaye.
Lourdes station is just under two kilometers from the Sanctuary and takes about twenty minutes on foot. A faster way is to take a cab.
Bus
There are many Ouibus and Flixbus tourist buses that take you to Lourdes from many departure cities. In particular, you can book your trip from Paris, Toulouse, Orleans, Bordeaux, Mont-de-Marsan and more.
Schedules and fares of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes
SCHEDULE
Sanctuary
- Portes St Joseph and St Michel: every day from 5:30 a.m. to midnight.
- Prairie Gate: daily from 8 a.m. to midnight
- CryptGate: daily from 5:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
- Swimming Pools: daily from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
RATES
Although admission to the farm is free, if you would like to visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes and have local guides explain all about this beautiful and historic farm, we recommend that you hire one of them or reserve your place for a group tour.
