Map LOURDES
Confused? CAn't FInd your way ? Fear not! Salvation is here with this indispensible guide to all the sites and sights of lourdes B Y D E B O R A H H AT C H / I L L U S T R AT I O N B Y A N D Y M A C G R E G O R
FOR OVER A CENTURY, LOURDES has been a sort of self-styled wellbeing retreat for the masses. Religious folk flock here to get spiritual at one of the world’s most important pilgrimage sites, while the sick come to see if the water really can cure their ills. Whether you believe the Virgin Mary appeared before St Bernadette in a cave here in 1858 or not, look beyond the famous grotto or the water wall, with its desirable H2O on tap, and you’ll see the glorious French Pyrénées all around. Say a prayer as you climb aboard the Funiculaire du Pic du Jer, as this train climbs to breathtaking heights of up to 1,000m. Or go underground on a barge that explores the region’s cavernous depths in Les Grottes de Médous. Whatever way you look at Lourdes – up, down, left, right, Catholic or not – you’ll feel part of something far bigger than a well-trodden religious road trip. But while being pious isn’t a prerequisite, the awesome natural sights in and around Lourdes could get you feeling spiritual. The stunning Lac de Lourdes, five minutes from town, or the Pyrénées National Park, with its beautiful waterfalls, are practically religious experiences. So make like a pilgrim and follow our guide to losing yourself in and around France’s most saintly streets – just watch out for the devils selling Mary-shaped water bottles for €100 a pop! f A P R –M A Y
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YEAHBABY
25 19/3/10 09:27:43