During my winter break, I stayed in a small town called Lourdes. After my short trip at the Cauterets, I went back to the hostel changed into a more comfortable clothes, took a nap and went out to see the small town.
Lourdes is a small town at the foothills of the Pyrenees, in the southwestern part of France. I didn’t have exactly any plan on what to see in this town besides to visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. It was a good thing that the hostel I was staying had a few pamphlets which gave a few tips on what to see in the town.
The town is mostly famous for the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes and as a Catholic, it was an honor to be able to visit this town. It was actually quiet during my visit, since it was still winter. Most of the stores and big hotels were closed, and there were only a few tourists who visited the small town. I contemplated on following the footsteps of Saint Bernadette using the pamphlets that I found at the hostel, but decided not to do it and was just walking around the small town aimlessly.
I stopped by first at the bottom of the Chateau Fort de Lourdes. I thought of going up and see the whole town from above, but then I thought of how unhealthy I have been and was actually afraid that I would faint before reaching the top. However, the next day since I had so much time to waste before my train leaves, I decided to take on the challenge. Surprisingly, it wasn’t that much of a climb. LOL. I thought it would be hard because it was up high on the hill. I even went up to their tower. (That was scary though, their staircase was small.)
Anyway after I skipped the Chateau, I went straight ahead to the Sanctuary. The place was huge, there were a number of chapels and basilicas within the Sanctuary. On the right side of the main church, facing the river, you can find the grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. Inside the grotto, enclosed in a glass wall, was the spring that Saint Bernadette found after the Lady of Lourdes told her in one of her visions. I explored the whole sanctuary, and paid my respects before I went back to my hostel.
The next day, I had a full day to go over and see everything again that I visited the day before and finally took the challenge to go up the Château Fort de Lourdes, which was worth it! For sure, my mom would love to come this holy place and I will definitely take her here someday.
Love, J.
