Lourdes Tourist Attractions
|
|
Lourdes, beautifully situated on both banks of the Gave de Pau on the northern fringe of the Pyrenees, is the summer residence of the bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes and a famous place of pilgrimage.
Cité Religieuse
In Loudres, the Boulevard de la Grotte and the Pont St-Michel lead to the Cité Religieuse, to the west of the town in a bend in the Gave de Pau. Immediately beyond the bridge is the Esplanade des Processions, along which there is a candle-lit procession every evening to the Esplanade du Rosaire.
St Pie X
In Lourdes, on the north side of the Esplanade des Processions is the Asile Notre-Dame-de- Lourdes, one of the town's two large hospitals. Below the south side of the Esplanade is the underground church of St- Pie X (St Pius X; by Pierre Vago, 1958), which can accommodate 20,000 pilgrims in its 12,000 sq. m/14,350 sq. yd.
Lourdes Museums
In the Pavillon Notre-Dame in Lourdes are the Musée Bernadette and the Musée d'Art Sacré du Gemmail (stained glass).
Esplanade du Rosaire
In Lourdes, at the west end of the Esplanade des Processions is the Esplanade du Rosaire, where the daily procession ends and is followed by the blessing of the sick. On the west side of the square is the Romanesque/Byzantine Basilica of the Rosary (1885-1889), which can accommodate 5,000 worshippers.
Massabielle Cave
In Lourdes, on each side of the Esplanade du Rosaire a ramp leads up to the neo- Gothic Upper Basilica (Basilique Supérieure), built in 1864-1871 (consecrated 1876) on the summit of the crag containing the cave of Massabielle. It has a 70 m/230ft high tower. In the interior are innumerable ex-votos. Under the church is a large crypt. Under the Upper Basilica, to the north, is the Grotte de Massabielle, a cave measuring 12 m/40ft by 10 m/33ft. In the niche marking the spot where the Virgin appeared to Bernadette is a marble figure of the Virgin by the Lyons sculptor Fabisch (1863), based on Bernadette's description of her.From the Basilica a Way of the Cross leads up to a Calvary, with 14 fine bronze figures.
Surroundings
Around Lourdes are a number of interesting caves - the Grotte des Sarrazins, the Grotte du Loup and the Grotte du Roy. 16km/10mi west of the town is the Grotte de Bétharram (open only in summer), with large rock chambers and an underground river (boat trips).2km/1.5mi south of Lourdes is the lower station of a cableway up Mt Béout (792m/2,599ft; fine views).In a 82m/270ft deep gully near the upper station prehistoric implements were found. A little way east is the lower station of a cableway up the Pic de Jer (948m/3,110ft), from which there are even wider views.
Nay - Beret Museum
Le Musée du Beret is dedicated to the Basque Beret, which began production in 1815. Visitors can trace the origin of the beret and reminisce about the tradition surrounding it. This magnificent stone building exhibits the stages of production and old machines.
Jazz in Marciac
This annual week-long festival includes nightly concerts by jazz greats from around the world.
Map - Lourdes
