Itinerary

1. 5-Hour Guided Tour of Lourdes: Following in the Footsteps of Saint Bernadette

   • Begin your tour at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes.

   • See the Grotto of Massabielle, where the Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Bernadette in 1858.

   • Visit the three Basilicas within the Sanctuary: the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, and the Basilica of Saint Pius X.

   • Learn about the full Lourdes pilgrimage programme including candlelight processions, blessing of the sick, and the baths.

   • Discover the locations and significance of the main ceremonies held at the Sanctuary.

   • Continue to the Museum of Saint Bernadette.

   • Explore the exhibits detailing the life of Saint Bernadette and the events of 1858.

   • Listen to your guide explain how the apparitions shaped the history of Lourdes.

   • Understand the hardships and spirituality of Bernadette through visual and written records.

   • Visit the Boly Mill, the birthplace of Saint Bernadette.

   • Walk through the family’s modest home and the old mill where her father once worked.

   • Imagine the difficult life they endured after losing their livelihood.

   • Proceed to the Maison Paternelle de Saint Bernadette, the only house the family ever owned.

   • View personal belongings of Saint Bernadette preserved by her descendants.

   • Gain insight into her early life before and after the apparitions.

   • Head to Le Cachot, the former prison cell where the Soubirous family lived in extreme poverty.

   • Understand how Saint Bernadette received the apparitions while living in this one-room shelter.

   • Reflect on the resilience and faith of her family during this difficult time.

   • Conclude the tour at the Lourdes Parish Church.

   • See the baptismal font where Saint Bernadette was baptized.

   • Admire the architecture of the parish church that played a central role in the spiritual life of 19th-century Lourdes.

   • End the tour with time for quiet reflection or personal prayer.