We stopped briefly in Lourdes on our way to Cauterets. Because we had to as the train stopped there for a few hours. It was everything we feared, but luckily for us, the hordes had gone home for the season.
Apparently, in 1860ish, soon-to-be Saint Bernadette had apparitions of the Virgin Mary by a grotto. She also dug in the ground and water came up. All you see here (and indeed the city), was built on and around the grotto. The waters, it is believed, cure the sick. I myself rubbed the water they had available from a spigot on my face to see if I could be cured of my neuralgia. Alas, it was not to be!
Lourdes is the fourth most popular pilgrimage in the world (an estimated 200+ million since 1860).
Inside the Basillica.
Bernadette the Musical if you are so inclined.
The Ousse River. Not the source of the miracle waters, but still cool.
Fun Fact: The Apparthotel on the right is one of many hotels in Lourdes that make the city the second largest in France (after Paris) by number of hotel rooms. (Not hotels themselves though: Nice is 2nd and Lourdes is 3rd.)
The next four pictures illustrate the real reason for coming to Lourdes: souvenirs! St. Patrick's shop is first because I am biased that way.
My lovely bride on the bridge over the Ousse.
Pax my friends!
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