Tourist Information

In short

• Lourdes is particularly famous as a Catholic pilgrimage spot since the apparitions in 1858. Six million pilgrims come here every year.
• Lourdes has been occupied by men since prehistory; its history is rich, but rarely told and it has been replaced by the history of the pilgrimage. Traces of Roman occupation still remain nowadays, and the medieval castle somehow stands.
• The town has had its hour of glory from 1858 and the apparitions of the Virgin in Massabielle cave. It soon became a main pilgrimage place, where, according to the Catholic Church, miraculous healings happen.
• Lourdes sacred music festival takes place in April: it is worth going and listening!
• There are several museums; some of them tend to focus on something different from the pervasive theme of religion: the Pyrenean museum is one of them, but Lourdes museum recounts the history of the town since 1858. You'll also have the opportunity to visit the wax museum, and Bernadette Soubirous house, a woman who saw the Virgin.

Climate

Our best tips

• Go to Lourdes in April to enjoy the sacred music festival; you'll save some money.
• Be careful with the tourist traps! There are a lot of them in Lourdes.

Average prices for hotels

• Low budget: 38€ per night in low season, and 44€ in high season.
• Mid-range: 61€ per night in low season, and 87€ in high season.
• Luxury: 99€ per night in low season, and 147€ in high season.

Recommended areas for your hotel

• Gave de Pau river banks are very tranquil; the setting is very pleasant for your holiday.
• The railway station neighbourhood is very useful if you have a lot of suitcases.

Need more information about this place?

We wrote un mini guide for our readers that we hope is coming as handy as possible (also available in PDF format to download, useful while traveling without an internet connexion) :

Lourdes : Handy Mini Travel Guide