Lourdes, Midi-Pyrenees guide de voyage

Visitez Lourdes gites : Lourdes hotels : location des voitures | Decouvrir Midi-Pyrenees

Lourdes is found in the Hautes-Pyrenees department, 30km south of Pau.

I hardly need explain the attraction of Lourdes. In 1858 in a cave near the town - the Grotte de Massabielle - the Virgin Mary appeared several times to a local girl. From this beginning an enormous industry has flourished, and many millions of visitors descend on the town each year, which has more hotels than any town in France except Paris.

Sadly there is little to attract you unless you are a Catholic in search of a cure for a serious ailment. The commercialism is all pervading and all encompassing. If you hope for a couple of days in a quiet French town, you will surely be disappointed.

I suppose that all the tack and the kitsch has its own surreal appeal to a certain category of visitor, and if you are in the region it is probably worth stopping by.

Otherwise, speed upon your way to the many beautiful places and sights within the surrounding region. You might like to visit nearby the nearby caves - Grottes de Betharram - to the west of Lourdes, which has quite an impressive, multi-roomed cave system to explore on guided tours.

Lourdes: tourisme, carte, guide de voyage et gites