The women’s queue to enter the water at the grotto.
Pilgrims and other visitors light candles at the grotto.
Lourdes healing water miracles
What constitutes a miracle?
The answer is more complex than I imagined. It is defined by rules from the Vatican and summarized here:
To be a miracle:
The illness must have been incurable without medical treatment or medication that can be shown to have been effective.
Healing must be immediate, instantaneous, complete, and without relapse.
The church must sanction each miracle through a rigorous process.
Over 8,000 claims have been made to date, but only 70 meet the strict criteria of a miraculous cure, less than 1% of all claims. The most recent of these was declared a miracle of Lourdes in February 2018. Click here for a detailed list of the first 67 Lourdes miracles.
The venerated image of Our Lady of the Rosary granted a Canonical Coronation by Pope Pius IX on 3 July 1876.
Other things to do in Lourdes France
Underground Basilica
The massive size of the Underground Basilica surprised us. Here, we found modern religious symbols and the illustrated story of Bernadette and the 18 apparitions that appeared to her.
Inside the underground Basilica and one of the series of illustrations.
Château Fort
A Roman fortification, the castle on the rocky hill overlooking the city is one of the few secular attractions in Lourdes. While energetic visitors can hike to the chateau, there is also a funicular or a free elevator. Here you will find beautiful views of the city and a museum featuring folk art and local artefacts (Musée Pyrénéen).
Château Fort on the hill overlooking the city.
Birthplace of Bernadette Soubirous (Moulin de Boly)
Bernadette was born and lived here until she was 10. It was originally a watermill. Today it is a museum offering insight into the life of peasant families in the 1800s.
Take a Lourdes tour
The biggest mistake we made in Lourdes was not taking a tour. Not so much for the sites, as they are easy to access, but rather for the history and legends. While we can get a lot from reading, there is something quite powerful in hearing about a miracle in the place it happened. If we get back, we will choose one of these two tours:
Lourdes: Half-day guided walking tour of the sanctuary
This tour starts at your city centre hotel. Explore the town and discover the history of the Marian apparitions that occurred only 150 years ago, dramatically reshaping this small town. This three-hour tour will walk you through one of the most spiritual places on earth. You will visit three basilicas and the grotto where the Virgin appeared 18 times.
Lourdes city and sanctuary walking tour
This tour starts in the city centre at the front of the world war II monument. Follow the footsteps of Bernadette Soubirous as you learn about the Marian apparitions of the 19th century. This two and a half hour walking tour will visit three basilicas, the grotto, the place where Bernadette lived with her family, and walk along the Gave de Pau Riverbank.
Check price and reviews for this city and sanctuary 2.5-hour walking tour
Driving in Lourdes France
Despite having driven in countries all around the world, we were not mentally prepared for driving in Lourdes. We rely on our GPS or Google Maps on our phone. However, it was consistently sending us the wrong way down narrow one-way streets.
As it turns out, every 15 days the city of Lourdes turns some of the one-way street signs the other way (no kidding) . This was a decision made after the one-way streets were initially instituted and several businesses lost customer traffic. The solution was to turn the streets. So if your GPS is confused, it is because the signs are turned. Be patient and vigilant.
Look closely at the sign. You can see that half flips, locking in place and changing the direction of the street every 15 days.
Where is Lourdes, France?
If you are brave enough to face the streets of Lourdes in your own vehicle, we recommend RentalCars.com . A conglomerator, they will provide a list of cars and pricing available through local and well-known companies. It’s quick and easy, and they provide English speaking customer service. We needed a vehicle, as Lourdes was the first stop on your French Pyrenees mountain road trip .
Otherwise, you can arrive by Eurail train , plane, or on a tour.
Take a day tour from Toulouse
This eight-hour adventure will bring you from Toulouse to one of the world’s most spiritual cities where you will walk in the footsteps of Bernadette Soubirous.
You will see the basilica, attend a mass at the Sanctuary, and discover the site of the healing waters. Lourdes is a city not to be missed, and if you are staying in Toulouse and have a free day, this tour is ideal.
Check price and reviews for this private walking tour from Toulouse
Our first view of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes
Where to stay in Lourdes, France
While there are many options, we don’t recommend where we stayed. Had we planned in advance, or not visited during the peak of the season we would have stayed at one of these two four-star hotels or at an Airbnb.
Grand Hôtel Moderne : My top pick, this example of classic late 19th century French architecture and decor is perfectly located. An interior mix of Art Nouveau, elegance, and modern convenience, it boasts comfortable beds and delicious meals.
Check price and reviews for the Grand Hôtel Moderne
Grand Hôtel Belfry : Built in 1873, this pet-friendly four-star accommodation looks comfortable and lovely. Superior rooms face the Sanctuary, while standard rooms face the city and fort hill. The buffet breakfast includes organic local products, and the hotel has onsite parking (not an easy thing to find in Lourdes).
Check price and reviews for the Grand Hôtel Belfry
Airbnb
Tips for visiting Lourdes
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes and the Grotto is always open.
Bring your water jugs to the cathedral to fill them from one of the taps with the healing Lourdes water. Water bottles in the shape of the Virgin Mary are available for sale at many locations in town.
Travel planning tips
Flights : We use Skyscanner to find all the available flight options at the best prices.
Rental Car: We always use RentalCars.com , a rental car search engine with no hidden costs.
Accommodations : We use Booking.com or HotelsCombined to find all levels of accommodations when we travel.
Travel Insurance : We purchase insurance that covers medical and travel emergencies when we head overseas. We start with World Nomads .
Packing Tips : Get a free copy of our packing light checklist when you sign up for our mailing list. (We pack light, yet have everything we need.)