Lourdes Guided Walking Tour (private)
Highlights
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2-hour private tour with an expert licensed tour guide
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Visit the Most Important Churches of Lourdes
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Get to Know the Historical Places of Bernadette’s Life
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Time for personal discovery / prayers at the Grotto
Summary
Explore Lourdes on our captivating guided walking tour. Immerse in spiritual history at the Sanctuary, witness the Grotto's miracles, and stroll through charming streets. Book now for an unforgettable journey of faith and culture in Lourdes
Tour info
Duration
2 hours
Group Size
15
Pricing (From)
Adult:
(18-64 years)
€230.00
Commentary
Meeting Point
Dropoff location
Why take this tour?
Learn the History of the Marian Apparitions
Following the reports that Our Lady of Lourdes had appeared to Bernadette Soubirous on a total of eighteen occasions in 1858, Lourdes has developed into a major place of Roman Catholic pilgrimage and of miraculous healing. The 150th Jubilee of the first apparition took place on 11 February 2008 with an outdoor mass attended by more than ten thousand pilgrims.
Today, around six million people visit Lourdes each year. Due to the consistent stream of pilgrims and tourists, Lourdes has become the second most important center of tourism in France, following Paris. It is now the third most important international Catholic pilgrimage site.
Following the reports that Our Lady of Lourdes had appeared to Bernadette Soubirous on a total of eighteen occasions in 1858, Lourdes has developed into a major place of Roman Catholic pilgrimage and of miraculous healing. The 150th Jubilee of the first apparition took place on 11 February 2008 with an outdoor mass attended by more than ten thousand pilgrims.
Today, around six million people visit Lourdes each year. Due to the consistent stream of pilgrims and tourists, Lourdes has become the second most important center of tourism in France, following Paris. It is now the third most important international Catholic pilgrimage site.
Meet your English speaking Licensed Tour Guide
Meet your English speaking local guide at a dedicated meeting point in Lourdes. By default we will set the meeting point in front of the Lourdes Tourism Office, but if you wish we can agree to another meeting point if that suits you better. Then you will have different options concerning your walking tour. You can either make your way to the Sanctuary where your guide will take you to the most important sites. Or, if you are interested in the life of Bernadette, there is also an option to follow a tour that will take you to the place where the young girl lived in Lourdes. At the beginning of your walking tour, don't hesitate to let your guide know which options you would be interested in.
Meet your English speaking local guide at a dedicated meeting point in Lourdes. By default we will set the meeting point in front of the Lourdes Tourism Office, but if you wish we can agree to another meeting point if that suits you better. Then you will have different options concerning your walking tour. You can either make your way to the Sanctuary where your guide will take you to the most important sites. Or, if you are interested in the life of Bernadette, there is also an option to follow a tour that will take you to the place where the young girl lived in Lourdes. At the beginning of your walking tour, don't hesitate to let your guide know which options you would be interested in.
Visit the Sanctuary
Begin your 2-hour guided walking tour with the visit of the Sanctuaries of Lourdes. The ensemble is the largest pilgrimage site of the town. Here, all the major churches are located as well as the grotto where the apparitions of the Virgin Mary took place. Visits include the Crypte, the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, the Basilica of the Rosary and the impressive underground Basilica Saint Pius X.
Begin your 2-hour guided walking tour with the visit of the Sanctuaries of Lourdes. The ensemble is the largest pilgrimage site of the town. Here, all the major churches are located as well as the grotto where the apparitions of the Virgin Mary took place. Visits include the Crypte, the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, the Basilica of the Rosary and the impressive underground Basilica Saint Pius X.
Stop at the Grotto
Walk towards the Grotto of the apparitions and enter beneath the rock. See the spring and the famous statue of Our Lady of Lourdes, an unforgettable experience. The Grotto is the site of the extraordinary events which took place in 1858. The niche where the statue is placed marks the place where the Virgin Mary most often stood. Iit is like a window that opens onto the kingdom of God.
Walk towards the Grotto of the apparitions and enter beneath the rock. See the spring and the famous statue of Our Lady of Lourdes, an unforgettable experience. The Grotto is the site of the extraordinary events which took place in 1858. The niche where the statue is placed marks the place where the Virgin Mary most often stood. Iit is like a window that opens onto the kingdom of God.
The Grotto is a place of prayer, hope, peace, respect, unity and silence. When passing through the Grotto or standing in front of it, each person has his or her own personal understanding of what it means. There, it is possible to fill bottles of the water of Lourdes and take time to meditate near the Grotto.
On the footsteps of Bernadette
Your full day tour continues in the afternoon as you follow your guide on the footsteps of Bernadette. During this walking tour in town, visit the house of Bernadette – the Boly Mill and then reach the ‘Cachot’, the small room where the family lived in the most difficult times.
Your full day tour continues in the afternoon as you follow your guide on the footsteps of Bernadette. During this walking tour in town, visit the house of Bernadette – the Boly Mill and then reach the ‘Cachot’, the small room where the family lived in the most difficult times.
Visit the Boly Mill
Bernadette Soubirous was born in this millhouse on the 7th of January of 1844. She lived in the water-mill with her parents for ten years. At that time, it was part of the numerous water-mills located on the edges of the river called “the Lapacca” and flowing into the river Gave de Pau. Inside you will discover the bedroom where Bernadette was born, the kitchen and the ancient water-mill with its grindstones. After 10 years of a happy life in the Mill, a set of tragic events will force the family to leave the Mill, not able to pay the rent anymore.
Bernadette Soubirous was born in this millhouse on the 7th of January of 1844. She lived in the water-mill with her parents for ten years. At that time, it was part of the numerous water-mills located on the edges of the river called “the Lapacca” and flowing into the river Gave de Pau. Inside you will discover the bedroom where Bernadette was born, the kitchen and the ancient water-mill with its grindstones. After 10 years of a happy life in the Mill, a set of tragic events will force the family to leave the Mill, not able to pay the rent anymore.
Visit the Cachot
By 1857, the Soubirous family fell on hard times and were obliged to move from the Boly Mill to what was a former prison, 'Le Cachot' (the cell). This small 16 square meters room (170 square feet) became the home of the family that was composed of the parents, Bernadette, her sister and her two brothers. It is at this time that the apparitions took place the first of which takes place on February 11, 1858.
By 1857, the Soubirous family fell on hard times and were obliged to move from the Boly Mill to what was a former prison, 'Le Cachot' (the cell). This small 16 square meters room (170 square feet) became the home of the family that was composed of the parents, Bernadette, her sister and her two brothers. It is at this time that the apparitions took place the first of which takes place on February 11, 1858.
What’s included?
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2-hour private walking tour of Lourdes -
Meet your guide at your hotel or dedicated location -
Services of a licensed tour guide -
English tour, other languages on request -
Personal insurance and expenses
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Meals and drinks
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Entrance fees to monuments & museums
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Gratuities for the guide
Things to know
Before you book
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Tour available all year round (except May 1st, Dec 25th and Jan 1st)
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Optional visit of Sites linked to Bernadette
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Tour is operated in English, other languages on request
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This tour is wheelchair accessible
Before you go
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Please be ready 10 minutes before arrival time
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Group size of 1 to 15 participants maximum
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Tour involves some walking, comfortable shoes recommended
Cancellation Policy
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Ophorus requires full payment by credit card, internet payment (through our website) or wire transfer (Wire transfer fees at the charge of the Guest) to make a reservation. We accept payment by AMEX, Visa and Master Card. There is no charge or service fee for processing credit card payments except with American Express +3%. For any cancellation, the following fees will be deducted from the refund:
> Up to 30 days before the service, 100% refund
> From less than 30 days to 15 days before the service, 20% fee
> From 14 days to 4 days before the service, 50% fee
> From 3 days before the service, 100% fee
About operator:
Ophorus Tours is both a licensed Tour Operator, member of Atout France and ETOA, and a Transportation company with headquarters in Bordeaux. We operate since 2005 and conduct Walking Tours, Day Trips, Private Tours, Shore Excursions and multi-regional Tours throughout France.
Our multilingual office staff is made up of France Travel Experts that design unique itineraries for both individuals and groups. Their perfect knowledge of the destination allows them to suggest carefully crafted programs to professionals of the Travel Trade all over the world.
Our in house team of licensed, multilingual Tour Guides are local Experts that can conduct any type of tours including (but not limited to) Cultural & Historical, Food & Wine, Luxury, Battlefields, Active, Family friendly, Faith-based etc...
Our multilingual office staff is made up of France Travel Experts that design unique itineraries for both individuals and groups. Their perfect knowledge of the destination allows them to suggest carefully crafted programs to professionals of the Travel Trade all over the world.
Our in house team of licensed, multilingual Tour Guides are local Experts that can conduct any type of tours including (but not limited to) Cultural & Historical, Food & Wine, Luxury, Battlefields, Active, Family friendly, Faith-based etc...
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