Lourdes Things To Do – Attractions & Must See

Lourdes Things To Do

Lourdes is one of the most popular cities in France for a few different reasons. One is its historical significance in the Catholic Church as the home of a very famous sighting of Mary in the 16th century. It is also popular for its beautiful scenery as the small village sits in the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains near the coast of Spain.

The Grotto

This is the premier attraction in the city. It is certainly one of the most impressive sanctuaries in the world. People of all faiths and beliefs visit it for this reason, not just Catholic travelers. This is the spot where a young girl named Bernadette first claimed to see Mary. Hundreds and sometimes even thousands of people come to the Grotto each night to light candles and pray. It has become a site for religious pilgrimage in the catholic church. Many disabled and sick people visit looking for relief. If huge crowds aren’t your thing, you should plan to visit the Grotto outside of peak visiting hours.

Le Cachot

Bernadette and her farmer family are definitely the focus of most of the historical and tourists attractions in Lourdes. This is on display at Le Cachot where the family lived at the time that the young girl was seeing what she saw. The family was very poor and were living in what was an empty prison at the time.

Maison Paternelle de Bernadette

This location is another place where Bernadette and her family lived later on in their life. It is said that they lived there after 1858 when the apparitions occurred. It is in town and is a much better living quarters than Le Cachot. The house has been restored and is now a museum related to the family. You can even see Bernadette’s old bedroom. During much of the time that the family lived in this home, Bernadette was living in the nearby convent. There is a small admission fee to enter the home. This is considered to be her mother’s home while Le Cachot, the more popular shrine was the home of her father.

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