France > Occitanie > Lourdes
Lourdes
N 43°5.837', W 0°3.204'
2019-10-10
https://en.lourdes-infotourisme.com/
Our rating: 6.40
Overall rating: - Rate this place - 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
We stopped at Lourdes to spend the night. If you do not know what kind of city it is, then find out before visiting, as the city is very unusual.
Lourdes ©Yuriy Buriak
This is one of the main European pilgrimage centers. Despite the fact that less than 15 thousand people live in the city, more than 5 million pilgrims come here every year. As you might guess, the city consists mostly of hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops. We spent the night at the Belfry Spa by l'Occitane (booking.com ). Located right under the castle, in the city center, it has a swimming pool, outdoor parking and nice views from the upper floors.
Lourdes ©Yuriy Buriak
Lourdes ©Yuriy Buriak
Lourdes ©Yuriy Buriak
Lourdes ©Yuriy Buriak
Pilgrims are lured here by the fact that, the Virgin Mary appeared to a 14-year-old local resident Maria Bernada 18 times during 1858. Subsequently, she was subjected to numerous interrogations, became a nun, and in 1933 was canonized. Over the cave where the phenomenon occurred for the first time, in 1886-89 the huge Basilica of Notre Dame de Lourdes was built. It consists of two basilicas located side by side.
Lourdes ©Yuriy Buriak
Even if you are not a religious person, the place is just beautiful, it makes sense to take a walk.
Lourdes ©Yuriy Buriak
The river Gave de Pau runs through the entire city center.
Lourdes ©Yuriy Buriak
From April to October at 16:30 and at 20:00, a procession with candles takes place.
Lourdes ©Yuriy Buriak
After the procession, everyone gathers in the huge square in front of the basilica.
Lourdes ©Yuriy Buriak
A huge green field is the third Basilica of St. Pius X, which is located underground and designed for 25 thousand people.
Lourdes ©Yuriy Buriak
The previous photo shows the castle, founded in 778, another landmark of the city (Château fort de Lourdes). If you park here N 43 06.063 W 0 02.981 and climb the hill, you get a great view of the city, with the Pyrenees in the background. You can also climb there on foot from the center. The castle itself also has an observation deck overlooking the city.
Lourdes ©Yuriy Buriak
Naturally, the city is completely commercialized. This is not a surprise, with such amount of tourists. Souvenirs are all related to religion: statuettes of saints, containers with water, icons, candles.
Lourdes ©Yuriy Buriak
We also climbed by the funicular to the nearest mountain, Pic-du-Jer (951 m). There are excellent views from the top and you can continue on foot to the top.
Lourdes ©Yuriy Buriak
Lourdes ©Yuriy Buriak
Lourdes ©Yuriy Buriak
Lourdes ©Yuriy Buriak
https://en.lourdes-infotourisme.com/web/EN/300-documentation.php - here you can download the map of the city. Getting there: the railway station is located almost in the very center (https://www.sncf.com/en ). The nearest airport Tarbes-Lourdes is located 20 minutes from the city, take a bus number 2 from the airport to the center.
Tags, France: cathedral , church Tags, all countries: cathedral , church
- Rate this place -
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Our rating - 6.40
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Visitor's rating - 0.00
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help