Sightseeing in Lourdes - what to see. Complete travel guide

Lourdes is one of the most important pilgrimage centers of Western Europe accommodating many iconic religious sites. Lourdes lies in the foothills of the Pyrenees , surrounded by idyllic mountain landscapes. The old picturesque town became a religious center after the significant event that took place on February 11, 1858. According to one of the legends, that day the Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous, then a 14-year-old local girl. This happened in the Caves Massabel, afterward, the Holy Virgin appeared to the girl 17 more times.

Bernadette Soubirous's claims caused a huge resonance in social and religious circles. The girl was repeatedly questioned about her visions and subjected to numerous medical examinations, which revealed no deviations. The girl became a nun and was later canonized in 1933. Today Saint Bernadette is the patroness of Lourdes. More than 70,000 pilgrims from all over the world come here to worship unique religious shrines of the city. It is noteworthy that over the past 150 years, more than 7,000 cases of the miraculous healing of hopelessly sick people have been recorded, which makes the city even more mysterious and attractive.

Much of the city's attractions are somehow connected with religion, and the most popular memorable souvenirs that tourists buy in Lourdes are figures of saints and beautiful icons. A huge number of pilgrims who began to flock to the city in the middle of the 19th century contributed to the active development of the city's tourism infrastructure. Today, in terms of the number of hotels, Lourdes is inferior to the only city of France - Paris. The accompanying tourist infrastructure has been improving too. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The history of the city is quite common: in the 8th century, a fortress was built here, around which the first settlements later appeared. The new city was named after its founder who changed its name after the adoption of Christianity. Until the middle of the 14th century, Lourdes was one of the quietest cities in France. Later, during the Hundred Years War, the city was captured by the English conquerors and had remained under their rule until the 15th century. The fortress survived all the hardships of wartime and was subsequently used as a military garrison and prison. Today it is the most important historical symbol of Lourdes.

As mentioned above, Lourdes began to attract the first foreign guests in the second half of the 19th century. Priceless mineral springs were discovered in the city. Their discovery is the merit of Bernadette Soubirous; the location of the healing springs was indicated by the Virgin Mary during one of the visions. It is noteworthy that after the discovery the source turned out to be very dirty, but in the shortest possible time, it has been surprisingly cleared. It continues to amaze guests of the city with its purest water to the present day. Water from curative springs is poured into very beautiful glass containers adorned with silver - this is one of the most popular and symbolic local souvenirs.

In the immediate vicinity of the healing springs, medical centers were established, in terms of the number of which Lourdes is one of the country's confident leaders. The city would be a great destination not only for those interested in religious sites and wishing to find miraculous healing. Being located in a wonderfully beautiful natural area, it is extremely popular among eco-tourists. Lourdes is also sure to please fans of excursions - the city has managed to retain its unique medieval charm and a wide range of cultural traditions.

House Museum of Bernadette Soubirous is a signature landmark of Lourdes. Absolutely everyone is welcome to see the old house, in which a girl, who later became the saint patron of the city, was born and spent her first years of life. Nowadays, her house exhibits an interesting collection of historical and religious artifacts. Besides that, there is a wax figure museum in Lourdes, the exhibition of which is also in some way dedicated to the religious theme.

Fans of natural landmarks will also not be disappointed in this miniature historic town. The Pyrenees National Park starts not far from the settlement. The majority of interesting hiking trails are available to tourists in warmer months. This is the time when vacationers can explore the gorgeous mountain region, climb up several hills, and admire the breathtaking panorama that they offer.

Lourdes is particularly full of travelers and pilgrims in the period from April until October. If you plan to visit the resort during these months, it is better to book a hotel in advance. It is also important to mention that prices are quite affordable in local hotels and restaurants despite hundreds of thousands of tourists who visit this resort every year. It is not hard to book a room for 100 dollars a night even at a high-class hotel.