A Tour of France's Best Cathedrals

The small Pyrenees village of Lourdes, and its imposing basilica, attract millions of pilgrims annually. This is the site where, in 1858, a young peasant girl, Bernadette Soubirous, had several famous Virgin Mary sightings. A visit to this church affords the opportunity to wander an immense cathedral, but also to see the actual cave where a young girl claimed she spoke to the Virgin Mary and where an endless stream of visitors come in search of a spiritual experience or a miraculous healing. The Catholic Church has acknowledged dozens of miracles from this spot.

Lodging options

There is only one other French city with more lodging options than Lourdes, and that's Paris. Even those this is a small village, the 5 million pilgrims that visit yearly need a place to sleep.

Find out more about Lourdes

Lourdes features an ideal location for exploring the Pyrenees mountains, which watch over the small but bustling city. Nearby Argeles-Gazost is a charming village featuring thermal spa waters and a casino. Get more information on the Lourdes Tourism Office site.

Travel time to the next stop

Chartres is about 7.5 hours away by train. An overnight train is the better way to go.