Welcome to lourdes

Lourdes is located at the foot of the Pyrenees, in the historical area of Bigorre, on the gave of Pau, in the south-west of Tarbes. The sanctuary is located at the exit of the city while following the gave of Pau.

The city is built around; a rock piton on which the castle was built and in a glacial basin resulting from the digging operated by the glacier known as Argeles or of the gave of Pau, at the time of the last phase of the glaciation of Wurm (50 000 at 12.000 BP), then by the gave itself after the cast iron of the glacier. The south of the basin is dominated by the karstic solid masses limestones, with dolines and cavities, of the Peak of Jer and Béout, separated by the valley from the gave. Downtown area, dominated by the calcareous spur of the strong castle, offers in several places the marks of the old stone quarries of Doors. The caves of Sarrazins, (800 m of development), and the caves of the Wolf in the solid mass which dominates the Sanctuaries testify to this karstic state subjected to the glacial influences. In north, one finds traces of the maximum expansion of this glacier which diverged in several languages around the site from Doors after being run up against preglacial reliefs: the lake of Lourdes in particular with its wetland classified Natura 2000 but also the peat bog known as of Biscay or Poueyferré and that of Monge, which were the support of work founders of glacial palynology, as of the peripheral morainic arcs which offers visible rock deposits, towards Peyrouse in the west, Bartrès in western north, and above the moor of Sarsan which dominates the city in north east, towards Bourréac, facing the assembly line.

This old glacial basin is today very largely occupied by the city while constituting a crossroads of communication between the various valleys which emerge there. By its digging, the gave contributed to the division of this space in two stages, that of the low city which is that of the sanctuaries, of the hotels and of the trade which surround them, and that of the high city whose life is a medium-sized city, the second of the inhabitants at the departmental level, marked by a tourist flow and of important passage.

To see: Basilica of Notre-Dame of the Rosary, Castle of Lourdes.

Lourdes counts many museums, private sector for the majority:

• Pyrenean museum bench in the walls of the castle
• Museum of the Nativity: cribs animated by a sound and light
• Museum of Lourdes: evoking the history of Lourdes since 1858 at our days
• Wax museum: 18 wax scenes and 100 characters
• Museum of Small Lourdes: walk in full nature around d' heavy a miniature in the year 1858.
• House of Bernadette and family sites of Soubirous.
• Before 1956 existed, on the current site of the hotels of the Panorama and Saint Saver, the last French panorama painted by Pierre Carrier Belleuse, the panorama of Notre Dame de Lourdes.

The strong castle of Lourdes, in turn main home of the count de Bigorre in the XIst century and XIInd century, passing with hands in hands in XIIIrd century and XIVth century centuries, royal prison at the XVIIth century and XVIIIth century then Pyrenean Museum (arts and popular traditions of the Pyrenees) as from 1921.

The old Lourdes is located between the Street Saint-Pierre and the castle. The small lanes and small squares were renovated or are in the course of restoration. The frontages for the majority were nicely restored.

Vestige of the fortifications, the tower of Garnavie (deformation of Gavarnie) is drawn up on a small small square in the south east of the castle. It is a surmounted quadrangular tower of a bretèche. It is generally dated from XIVth century and constitutes the last visible vestige of the enclosure of the city (inscription with the inventory of the Historic buildings in 1946).

You will be able to also see the various buildings which constituted the inheritance of the family of Bernadette Soubirous: its house and the Mill of Boly property of Soubirous until 1854, transformed into museums.

The site of the sanctuaries has as a nerve centre the cave of Massabielle and the basilica Notre-Dame-du-Rosaire which the basilica of the Immaculée-Conception. The impressive basilica Saint-Magpie X, concrete work very of the architect Pierre Vago, extends even more to the variation under ground. The pilgrimage of Lourdes accomodates each year several million pilgrims.

The church of the Dormition-of-the-Virgin is a Church Ukrainian Greek-catholic which depends on Apostolic Exarchat of France of the Ukrainians of the Sainte Croix.

Principal monuments and public buildings of the modern time are located along the center which crosses the city, the round not northern at the entry of the city towards Tarbes, with the round not southern at the exit towards Argelès, (which occurred Alexandre Marqui, which occurred Maransin, street Saint Pierre and Peyramale place, place of Marcadal, street Laffite, Place of the Common Field, which occurred of the Marshal Foch, which occurred Francis Lagardere):

• Vast Place Peyramale overhangs the carpark of the same name. There is found in tourist office and an imposing war memorial.
• The small Place of Marcadal, at the entry of the street of the Cave and in the middle of the city is always animated, it is marked by the presence of a monumental fountain.
• The parish church is that of the Sacred Heart. Built at the end of the XIXth century, it replaced the old church Saint Pierre and was devoted in 1903.
• Along the avenue Foch Marshal, align several public buildings with the red walls, or pink sharp, traditional color of many old houses of Lourdes. This color reproduced on the restored buildings contributes to create an architectural unit and constitutes a mark of the city.
• The markets and the market hall built in the center of the vast place of the Common Field constitute the another center d' animation of the high city.
• The cinema the Palate and the palate of the congress including/understanding a room of the exposure give directly on this garden. They were arranged in what was the first court of Lourdes built for this use before it is not transferred to the castle from Soum, which explains its neo-classic architecture emphasizing the stone of size of Doors. A shaded garden equipped of a bandstand makes the connection with the municipal buildings which make him continuation.
• Town hall arranged in an old private villa is the most remarkable element by its pace of small castle of end of the 19th century (see photographs supra, paragraph administration). Fastening of old close villas as municipal buildings and a their architectural treatment in the same style increased the importance and harmonize this public space.
• More distant, beautiful construction 1900 of the castle of Soum, where was held the court recently closed, supplements the collection by recalling in its style that of the town hall.

The most beautiful panorama of the Pyrenees since Lourdes. The Peak of Jer which overhangs the city is recognizable with its large cross, enlightened the night.

You can reach it by a funicular centenary which brings you to the top of 1000 meters high in a few minutes; travel of charm…

At the top, a path of walk will lead you until the observatory; you will discover a single view-point there offering a sight at 360° on Lourdes, Tarbes, Pau, the valley d' Argelès Gazost and Pyrenean tops.

The bar " High of Lourdes" you will propose at all hours drinks, sandwiches, crepes and waffles thus qu' a mountain snack containing regional products.

• Hiring VTT.
• Handicapped accesses
• Possible restoration at the top every midday.
• Carpark coaches private and free.
• Integrated into the circuit of the urban bus and the small tourist train.
• Direct access for the hikers and vetetists with the Green lane.
• Botanical path.

The Caves of Bétharram deliver in the variety of their aspects, the key of the training of almost all the dead caves or in full activity.
They include five stages superimposed like those of a house, stages dug at different times.
Excursion:

• Travel in the center of the Earth
• Crossing supplements of a mountain on 5 stages
• Passage in the boat
• Exit in the small train
• Exposure on prehistory
• Duration of the visit: 1:20 approximately

Guided visit (wiring for sound) in French, English, Spanish, Italian, German, Dutch, Portuguese, Polish, Chinese, Japanese.

Possibility for the excursion in the coach at the beginning of Lourdes in season.

True sanctuary protected (45 000 hectares) and place from observation of the wildlife (isards, raptors, marmots, Pyrenean flora: 1.200 species.) Created in 1967, the National park of the Pyrenees extends from the valley of Winder (in the west) to the solid mass of Néouvielle (in the east), and ridges at the Spanish border, covering a surface of 500 km2. The wild life and the beauty are completely preserved there. There, several beautiful tops of the chain of the Pyrenees rise: Peak of the South of Ossau, Balaïtous, Vignemale, Marboré, the circuses of Gavarnie, the Lily, Troumouse, Estaubé, Barroude, and great natural curiosities such as the famous cascades of the Bridge of Spain, or the Breach of Roland…

To reach most quickly starting from Lourdes, to go it in Arrens Marsous (25 km) or to Cauterets (30 km).

The Green lane of Gaves crosses the heart of our Pyrenean country, Lourdes in Pierrefitte-Nestalas, to offer to you a pallet of discovered of a great richness: medieval tower, natural reserve, peaks, banks of Gave of Pau, strong castle… since the Green lane of Gaves, you can take your time to discover a strong identity of its traditions and its landscapes.
The Green lane of Gaves at summer the first French green lane to obtain the national label “Tourism and Handicap” for 3 deficiencies: handicaps engine, mental and auditive. A course of 17km, 100% nature and discovered in an idyllic decoration, giving access to many paths. How it is with foot, in roller, in vtt, with bicycle or by manual bicycle, come to benefit from the Green lane from Gaves to practise your favorite sport!

At three minutes of the centre town, the amateurs of fishing, water sports and of nature, will be filled.

Of glacial origin, this lake is one of vastest of the Pyrenees (55 hectares). You will be able to slacken and spade-screw there, in the middle of a forest of coniferous tree.

Fish, Voile, Canotage, VTT, Chevaux, Restaurants.

On its southern bank was arranged, within a framework of small valleys and pine forests, a course of Golf comprising 18 holes.

The forest where Bernadette collected deadwood, offers to you a large range of marked out walks, adventure playgrounds de for the children, course of health or of corners picnic.