Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Facebook Twitter YouTube
    Latest Articles
    • Life-changing Dental Treatment for those with missing or badly damaged teeth
    • The Dublin Assay Office are recruiting a panel of Hallmarking Operators as a part-time position
    • Driving Life with Conor Faughnan Episode 12 – Conor talks Electric Cars with Geraldine Herbert
    • Snap Happy in Morocco this October
    • 5 Copies of Mindcrafting – How to Mentor Your Ageing Mind to be won
    • We are recruiting for a Dairy & Food Study – Be in with a chance to win a hamper
    • One in five people carry the Haemochromatosis or ‘Iron Overload’ Gene – Ireland’s most common genetic condition
    • Spanish tapas a major attraction at Taste of Dublin event
    Senior Times
    Podcasts
    • Home
    • News
    • Features
      1. Driving Life
      2. Fashion & Beauty
      3. Finance
      4. Food & Wine
      5. Further Education
      6. Galleries
      7. Gardening
      8. Irish GenPod
      9. Health
      10. Hobbies & Pastimes
      11. Legal
      12. Literature
      13. Nostalgia
      14. Profiles
      15. SeniorTimes Live
      16. Sport
      17. Travel
      18. What’s On
      Featured
      September 8, 20210

      5 Lucky Winners of a Doro Smartphone have been selected!

      Recent
      July 7, 2022

      Life-changing Dental Treatment for those with missing or badly damaged teeth

      July 4, 2022

      Driving Life with Conor Faughnan Episode 12 – Conor talks Electric Cars with Geraldine Herbert

      June 28, 2022

      Snap Happy in Morocco this October

    • Podcast
    • Competitions
    • SeniorTimes Live
      • Register
      • What’s on
    • Magazine
      • Previous Issues
      • Subscribe
      • Advertise
    • Meeting Place
    • Contact
    Senior Times
    You are at:Home»Features»Travel»Lourdes and beyond

    Lourdes and beyond

    0
    By Senior Times on June 4, 2020 Travel, Uncategorized

    John Low joined the millions who visit Lourdes every year but also took excursions to some of the stunning sights in the neighbouring Pyrenees

    Everybody, it seems, has been to Lourdes, but most pilgrims leave without experiencing a number of its many non-religious attractions and those of the surrounding Pyrenees.  Buried beneath the countless shops offering religious mementoes – some tasteful, many tacky – and all the associated paraphernalia it is a pleasant town and hinterland  waiting to get out. Millions visit the town every year and there are more hotel rooms in Lourdes than anywhere else in France after Paris. Yet it has a local population of less than 15,000.

    Most visitors make for The Grotto, The Basilicas, The Sanctuary, and take part in the candlelight processions and the interminable masses in different languages. But the castle overlooking the town, for example, was not exactly jam-packed with visitors on the day I visited. Which is a pity because it has a lot to offer: it features The Museum of Pyrenean Life with rooms kitted out as they would have been centuries ago, as well as examples of peasant dress from all over the region; and there is a very impressive model village. The site goes back to Roman times, and Charlemagne tried to take it in the 8th century. The keep dates from the 14th century, and some walls from the 11th or 12th century. Near the keep is a lovely botanical garden.

    There are many other diversions, including the funicular to the Pic du Jer which offers an even better view of the town and is easily recognised by its large cross which is illuminated at night. It is approximately 1000 metres above the town.  At the summit a footpath leads to a viewing platform offering stunning views of Lourdes, neighbouring Tarbes, Pau and the Pyrenean peaks.

    Near to the town is a Lake Lourdes offering many activities – pedalos, kayaks, bike trails, golfing, and fishing as well as walking tracks. Nor surprisingly Lourdes is not short of restaurants and other eateries offering fayre to suit all tastes. I found a superb, reasonably priced restaurant in Les 100 Culottes near the market. It specialises in seafood and pork dishes and is well worth a visit. (25 Place du Champ Commun 65100, Lourdes. Tel: 0033 507 455356. Closed Sunday).

    If you visit Lourdes as one of the many packages available from a number of travel companies you will not have to look for a hotel. But if you organise your own accommodation it’s good to know the town is packed with choices.. from basic B&Bs to the immensely grand. I opted for something midway, the four star Grand Hotel Gallia & Londres. This is a centrally located, old world, family run hotel exuding comfort and fine service. It has an elegant, beautifully panelled dining room that offers a splendid backdrop to its gourmet offerings. An historic note: the hotel was established by a member of the Soubirous family to which Bernadette belonged. Not cheap but recommended if you don’t mind paying extra for comfort and service for your few days in Lourdes. (26 Avenue Bernadette Soubirous, 65100, Lourdes. Tel; 0033 562943544)

    Bernadette and the apparitions

    On the 11th of February 1858, 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous, a miller’s daughter from Lourdes, is said to have witnessed an apparition of Mary the Mother of Jesus while gathering wood. Bernadette said she first saw a vision of Our Lady surrounded by brilliant light. During the 9th apparition, the discovery of the ‘miraculous spring’ in the Grotto was made by Bernadette. Its waters are said to have healing powers and many miraculous healings to this day are attributed to it.
    Bernadette was Canonised in 1933.

     

     

    Excursions to the neighbouring Pyrenees
    There are a number of interesting towns in the Pyrenees to visit from Lourdes and you cannot fail to be impressed as you pass through a string of spic-and-span centres, characterised by steeply-roofed timber dwellings. One the most interesting is Cauterets which is only 30km due south. If you are not driving you can get a train or bus.

    Cauterets Continental

    Cauterets is a small, but charming town, popular both in the winter as a ski resort and in the summer for tourists exploring the many attractions of the region. At one point Cauterets was the premier spa town in France frequented by the rich and famous. Visitors included Victor Hugo, Claude Debussy and Beaudelaire. The elegant Boulevard Latapie Flurin with its Belle Epoque splendour is worth checking out. Another interesting architectural gem is the bus station located at the entrance to the town. This looks like a giant mountain chalet and was the Norwegian pavilion at the Paris Exhibition in 1889.
    The town is well served by eateries. One I can recommend is Regent just off the main town square. (5 Place Marechal Foche 65110. Tel; 0033 562925010).
    Another popular excursion from Lourdes is Gavarne. You walk through the village and at the end the view will knock your socks off: this is the Cirque de Gavarnie, a natural amphitheatre which has been attracting visitors since the 19th century. The ‘colosseum’ is 5km in diameter with its ‘walls’ reaching up to 1500m high, containing some of the highest waterfalls in Europe. Numerous surrounding summits are all over 3,000m high. It comes as no surprise that this is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The aforementioned Victor Hugo described it thus: ‘The most mysterious building by the most mysterious architect. It is the colosseum of nature’. There are numerous walking and biking trails through the forests skirting the foothills of the mountains. And if you’re feeling energetic or adventurous you can follow some of the slightly more demanding ‘off road’ trails – the reward is likely to be some of the most breath-taking views of your life. Hiking fans can continue up to the foot of the Grande Cascade, one of the highest waterfalls in Europe.
    So the suggestion is if you are planning to visit Lourdes in the future, either in a package deal, or under your own steam, ensure you make time to visit some of the surrounding Pyrenean towns and villages such as Cauterets and Gavarne.

    Further information:
    A number of tour companies offer package deals to Lourdes. Check with your local travel agent. Ryanair fly to Lourdes but not between the end of October and March
    Atout France, Lincoln House, 296-302 High Holborn, London WC1 V7JH.
    Tel: 0044 207 611 9656.
    www.rendezvousenfrance.com
    www.en.lourdes-infotourisme.com
    www.lourdes-france.org
    www.tourisme-hautes-pyrenees.com
    www.pyrenees-trip.com

    Spread the love
    mm
    Senior Times
    • Website
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn

    Senior Times publishes Senior Times magazine and are producers of the SeniorTimes Podcasts. They are also organisers of SeniorTimes LIVE! run throughout the country

    Related Posts

    Snap Happy in Morocco this October

    Spanish tapas a major attraction at Taste of Dublin event

    The Grand Tour with Lorna Hogg – Episode One & Two

    Comments are closed.

    Driving Life Podcasts

    Gen Pod Series

    Search the Site
    Spotify

    Subscribe

    Our Podcasts

    Senior Times Podcast Platform · Next Up
    Subscribe to our Newsletter
    * indicates required
    Dublin
    July 7, 2022, 12:25 pm
    Partly sunny
    Partly sunny
    21°C
    real feel: 23°C
    wind speed: 4 m/s NW
    sunrise: 5:06 am
    sunset: 9:53 pm
    Forecast July 7, 2022
    day
    Intermittent clouds
    Intermittent clouds
    21°C
    wind speed: 3 m/s NW
    night
    Intermittent clouds
    Intermittent clouds
    12°C
    wind speed: 2 m/s NW
     
    Follow Us On Facebook
    Follow us on YouTube
    Follow us on Twitter
    Tweets by @seniortimesmag
    Copyright © 2021 Sports & Leisure. Designed by clikcreative.com.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.