Lourdes pilgrimage

Each year around six million pilgrims make their way to this small town in the French Pyrenees — making Lourdes one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the world. Whether you're planning your first visit or returning for the tenth time, this guide covers everything: the story, the sacred sites, the daily rituals, what to pack, and how to plan your trip.

The story of Lourdes

In 1858, a fourteen-year-old girl named Bernadette Soubirous reported eighteen apparitions of the Virgin Mary in a grotto on the banks of the River Gave near the town of Lourdes. During one of these apparitions, a spring emerged from the ground — a spring that has been associated with miraculous healings ever since.

The Catholic Church officially recognised the apparitions in 1862. Today, 70 healings have been formally declared miraculousby the Church's Medical Bureau — a rigorous independent body that examines each case. Thousands more unexplained recoveries have been documented without formal declaration.

Bernadette herself became a nun and died in 1879. She was canonised in 1933. Her body, incorrupt, rests at the Chapel of Saint Gildard in Nevers, visited by many pilgrims en route to or from Lourdes.

The sacred sites

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes is a large complex stretching along the River Gave. It contains several distinct churches, chapels, and pilgrimage sites — plan to spend time at each.

The Grotto of Massabielle

The heart of Lourdes. This is the exact site where Our Lady appeared to Bernadette, and where the miraculous spring emerged. Pilgrims come to pray, touch the rock face, and collect the spring water. The atmosphere is one of profound stillness — there is no formal liturgy at the Grotto itself, just quiet personal prayer.

The baths

Adjacent to the Grotto, the baths allow pilgrims to immerse themselves in the spring water. Volunteers known as the Hospitality of Our Lady of Lourdes assist pilgrims through the process. No booking is required — simply join the queue. The experience is deeply moving for most pilgrims, whatever the physical outcome.

The basilicas

The Sanctuary contains three main churches built one above the other. The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception sits at the top, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary in the middle, and the vast underground Basilica of Saint Pius X below — capable of holding 25,000 people, consecrated in 1958 for the centenary of the apparitions.

The pilgrim experience — what to expect

Lourdes is unlike any other place. The sheer scale — the numbers of people, the diversity of nations, the mix of the sick and the healthy, the joyful and the sorrowful — creates an atmosphere that is difficult to describe and impossible to forget.

The candlelight procession

Every evening at 9pm, pilgrims gather at the Grotto and process to the Esplanade in front of the Rosary Basilica, each carrying a candle. The procession moves through different languages — the Ave Maria is sung in rotation — and culminates in Benediction. This is the moment most pilgrims describe as the most spiritually powerful of their entire visit. Do not miss it.

The Eucharistic procession

Each afternoon, the Blessed Sacrament is carried in procession and used to bless the sick. Many of the most famous healings associated with Lourdes have occurred during this procession. It is a deeply moving experience to witness regardless of one's expectations.

The water

Free water points fed by the spring are located throughout the Sanctuary. Pilgrims drink from them, fill bottles to take home, and use them for personal prayer and reflection. There is no charge and no limit.

Sample 4-day itinerary

When to go

The pilgrimage season runs from Easter to mid-October, with the Sanctuary open year-round. Each period has its own character:

Getting there

Lourdes sits in the foothills of the French Pyrenees, approximately 150km from Toulouse and 40km from Pau. The nearest airports are Lourdes-Tarbes (direct flights from several UK and European cities during pilgrimage season) and Pau (year-round), with Toulouse as a larger hub.

Direct trains run from Paris Montparnasse to Lourdes (around 5 hours on the TGV). Many parish groups travel by coach from across the UK and Europe, which allows for fellowship along the journey itself.

Costs and budget

Entry to the Sanctuary, the Grotto, the baths, and the processions is entirely free. Your main costs will be transport, accommodation, and meals.

What to pack

• Comfortable walking shoes — the Sanctuary is large and you will walk several kilometres daily
• Empty bottles or containers for Lourdes water
• A light rain jacket — the Pyrenees weather can change quickly
• Modest clothing for the basilicas and Grotto — shoulders and knees covered
• A rosary — for the evening procession and personal prayer
• Candles — available to purchase at the Sanctuary for the evening procession
• Cash — some stalls and smaller shops are cash only
• Your parish registration details if travelling as part of a group

Going with your parish

Most pilgrims visit Lourdes as part of an organised group — through their parish, their diocese, or a Catholic travel operator. There are real advantages: fellowship, shared liturgy, a priest or deacon accompanying the group, and the logistics handled for you.

Many dioceses organise annual Lourdes pilgrimages, often in the first fortnight of April or around the national pilgrimage dates. Your parish administrator or priest will have details of the next departure.