Driving distance from Calais:
695 miles (Approx. 9hrs 45m)
One cannot come to the Pyrenees without visiting Lourdes. Whatever your denomination, or not, this spiritual capital of Europe has to be a must.
Located in the “Vallee des Gaves” (Valley of Rivers) the town of Lourdes is surrounded by high mountain peaks in a wide valley that was formed thousands of years ago by a glacier that hung above the summits of the “Vignemale” mountains and carved its way through the earth creating this amazing valley.
Up until the mid 19th century, Lourdes was just a small and charming Pyrenean market town whose most prominent feature at the time was the fortified castle that rises up from a rocky escarpment at its centre.
All this was to change on the 11th February in 1858 when a local peasant girl by the name of Bernadette Soubirous is said to have witnessed several Marian apparitions (a supernatural appearance by the Blessed Virgin Mary) in a grotto on an outcrop of rock called Massabielle near to the town. After authentication of these appearances by the Catholic Church, Lourdes became a place of Catholic Pilgrimage and healing.
Today, Lourdes is one of the most visited places in Catholic Christendom. It is home to some 15,000 inhabitants, but it is able to take in some 5,000,000 pilgrims and tourists every season. One of the world's leading Catholic Marian shrines, it has such an important place within the Roman Catholic Church, that Pope John Paul II visited the shrine twice: on 15 August 1983, and 14–15 August 2004. In 2008, Pope Benedict XVI authorized special indulgences to mark the 150th anniversary of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Since 1860, it is estimated that 200 million people have visited the shrine whose spring water from the grotto is believed by some to possess healing properties. The Roman Catholic Church has officially recognized 69 healings considered to be miraculous based on Church criteria for authenticity and authentic miracle healing with no physical or psychological basis other than the healing power of the water.
For many of the millions of dedicated pilgrims that travel to Lourdes it is a place of hope and great spirituality. However, the best way to make up your mind is to visit Lourdes, which remains a place of renowned interest – even to those who are spiritually inclined.
The Tourist Information in Lourdes is open every day during the season (see times below) and their comprehensive website is full of useful information, tips and suggestions
Office du Tourisme de Lourdes,
Place Peyramale,
65100 Lourdes.
Tel: +33 (0)562 427740
Website: www.lourdes-infotourisme.com Email: info@lourdes-infotourisme.com
Open all year:
01/01 to 02/03 and 03/11 to 31/12. Monday to Saturday (except holidays): 9.00 -12.00 / 14.00 - 17.30
03/03 to 13/04 and 12/10 to 02/11. Monday to Saturday (except holidays): 09.00 - 12.00 / 14.00 - 18.00
14/04 to 29/06: Monday to Saturday: 09.00 - 12.30 / 13.30 -18.30; Sunday: 10.00 -12.30. Holidays: 10.00 - 18.00
30/06 to 11/10. Monday to Saturday: 09.00 -19.00 (18.30 in September); Sundays and holidays: 10.00 - 18.00; Sundays in September: 10.00 - 12.30
Lourdes opening dates: All year.
Lourdes offers a wide range of summer activities. Please click on an activity type to go to the dedicated page.
Sports & Leisure
Road Cycling
Mountain biking
Cycling the green routes of the Gaves Valley
Hiking in the Pyrenees National Park
Walking & Hiking in the Ossau Valley
The "GR 10" hiking footpath
Hike caching in the Gaves Valley with GPS
Horse Riding the Cirque of Gavarnie
Le Petit Train Touristique
Lourdes Lake
Kayaking on Lourdes Lake
Pedalos on Lake Lourdes
Golf on Lake Lourdes
Go to the Sports & Leisure Page >
Culture and Heritage
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes
Rosary Basilica
Basilica of St. Pius X
Château Fort de Lourdes
Lourdes Museum
Le Petit Lourdes Museum
Pic du Jer Funicular
Go to the Culture & Heritage Page >
Natural Wonders & Wildlife
The Pyrenees Animal Park
Donjon des Aigles
Jardin Massey in Tarbes
Les Grottes de Bétharram (Caves of Bétharram)
Médous Caves
Esparros Caves
Cirque of Gavarnie
Gavarnie Village
Sights in Gavarnie
Pont D’Espagne
Pic Du Midi
The Pyrenees National Park (UNESCO SITE)
Ossau Valley
Néouvielle Nature Reserve
Road
Driving distance from Calais: 1,112km, 9hrs 45
Driving distance from Le Harve: 896km, 8hrs 5
Driving distance from Caen: 847km, 7hrs 30
Driving distance from Cherbourg: 937km, 8hrs 20
Driving distance from Saint Malo: 776km, 7hrs 5
Driving distance from Bilbao: 295km, 2hrs 55
Driving distance from Santander: 390km, 3hrs 50
Air
International Airport Tarbes – Lourdes
Tel: +33(0)562 329222. Website: http://www.tlp.aeroport.fr
Distance to Lourdes: 9 miles/14km, approx. 20 mins
Air France operates flights from Paris-Orly. 3 flights daily from Monday to Friday, 2 flights on weekends.
Ryanair operate 2 weekly flights from London Stansted on Monday and Friday.
International Airport Pau – Pyrenees
Tel: +33(0)559 333300. Website: http://www.pau.aeroport.fr/
Distance to Lourdes: 33 miles/53km, approx. 45 mins
Air France operates flights from Paris-Orly. 10 daily flights from Sunday – Friday, 2 flights on Saturday.
Air France operates flights from Paris-Charles de Gaulle. 10 daily flights from Sunday – Friday, 3 flights on Saturday.
International Airport Toulouse - Blagnac
Tel: +33(0)561 424441. Website: http://www.toulouse.aeroport.fr
Distance to Lourdes: 110miles /177km, approx. 1 hrs 45mins
Easyjet operates flights from London Gatwick. 2 flights (Sunday, Monday, Thursday Friday) 1 flight (Wednesday, Tuesday, Saturday)
Easyjet operates 3 weekly flights from Bristol on Sunday, Monday & Friday and daily flights during holiday periods.
British Airways operates flights from London Heathrow. 2 flights (Wednesday – Friday), 3 flights (Sunday – Tuesday), 1 flight (Saturdays).
International Airport Carcassonne
Tel: +33(0)468 719646. Website: www.aeroport-carcassonne.com
Distance to Lourdes: 258km / 160 miles, approx.2hr 25mins
Ryanair operates 3 weekly flights from London Stansted on Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday.
Ryanair operates 2 weekly flights from Liverpool John Lennon airport on Tuesday & Saturday.
International Airport Biarritz
Tel: +33(0)559 438383. Website: http://www.biarritz.aeroport.fr/
Distance to Lourdes: 96 miles/154km, approx. 1hr 40mins
Ryanair operates 3 weekly flights from London Stansted on Wednesday, Friday & Sunday.
Private taxi transfers from airports to Lourdes are pre-bookable via Pyrenees Collection. See our Airport Transfer page for more information.
Rail
4 daily TGV trains from Paris to Lourdes/Tarbes operated by SNCF. Duration 6 hours.
Nightly couchette train from Paris.
3 weekly car-couchette trains from Paris.
Need to speak to Voyages SNCF
Reservation number:
0844 848 5848
Opening Times:
Monday to Friday 9am-7pm and Saturday 9am-6pm
Local Bus Transfers
The Bus Company «Maligne des Gaves» operates #2 line from Tarbes-Lourdes airport to Tarbes, Lourdes and the mountain resorts of Luz Saint-Sauveur and Barèges
Pick up /Drop off point: Arrival level of the airport/Bus station in resort
Price: Single Adult/2€; Single child (4 -12 years)/1€.
Departures days: Daily
Departure Times: Click on the link below
http://www.sla-airport.com/Fichiers/documents/16_HORAIRESBUS2014MalignedesGavesfichehorairePDF(2).pdf
Car Hire
Pyrenees Collection can arrange very competitive car hire at all airports, train stations and other town locations. Seven day rental prices are available from our reservation team.