Lourdes – South of Franceand its Sanctuaries...

Main places of interest for pilgrims and visitors to the Sanctuaries :

• The esplanade of Basilica Notre Dame du Rosaire
• The Grotto of Massabielle
• The crypt
• Basilica Notre Dame du Rosaire
• Basilica Saint Pie X

Lourdes and its history.

The city is situated in the south-west part of the département of Hautes-Pyrenees,  with the high Pyrenean chain looming up behind in its south, and minor summits like Béout, Grand Jer, and Pibeste in its neighbourhood. The river Gave flows across the city, coming from the valleys of Gavarnie, and past the Grotto of Massabielle.

When the Apparitions started Lourdes was but a modest county town numbering 4135 inhabitants. The city was then a stopping-off place for travellers on their way to take the waters in  spa resorts such as  Argelès-Gazost, Bareges, Cauterets, Luz-Saint-Sauveur, Bagnères-de-Bigorre.

From 1858, when Bernadette Soubirous had the visions of the Virgin Mary, Lourdes developped into the most important Roman Catholic pilgrimage centre in France, with pilgrims coming from all over the world. Out of thousands of miracles commonly believed to have taken place, only 66 were authenticated by Rome.

For further information, see the site Sanctuaires de Lourdes.