Lourdes a deeply spiritual and moving place

This town in the French Pyrenees is home to one of the world’s most significant Marian shrines, where hundreds of thousands of pilgrims gather every year to mark the appearance of Mary to young Bernadette Soubirous (now St. Bernadette) in 1858. Filled with sacred sites, it’s a deeply spiritual and moving place to come and reflect, whether or not you want to take part in the daily masses and candle-light processions.

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Must see:
The grotto where Bernadette saw Mary is, of course, the place where everyone wants to come. There are, however, many other rewarding places to visit including the underground Basilica of Pius X.

Must eat at:
For a taste of the local delicacies of the French portion of the Pyrenees, check out the Restaurant Alexandra on Rue du Fort in Lourdes. It’s family-run, warm and welcoming.

Must be there for:
The annual Journee de la Paix (Peace Day) in May is the perfect time to come to Lourdes, when the weather is clement (but not too hot) and the accent is on the promotion of a more peaceful world.

Well-travelled tips:
· If you’re travelling here independently and want to get around, but don’t want to leave town, walking makes perfect sense. All the major shrines are with easy walking distance.
· Be aware of the long lunch – some shops close for up to 90 minutes over lunchtime... so a bit of advance planning is necessary.

Visa:
British citizens do not need a visa to visit France.