Lourdes - 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.