Lourdes is a small town in the foothills of the Pyrene in south-western France. For centuries, the town was known for the beautiful fortified castle Château fort de Lourdes perched on an escarpment in the town’s center until 1858 when young peasant girl Bernadette Soubirous reported sightings of the Virgin Mary at the Grotto of Massabielle.
The city became one of the world's biggest pilgrimage sites and religious tourism destinations with six million visitors that descend on Lourdes every year. The city has a constant flow of religious activities – you can attend mass, take part in the daily Candlelight Procession, or visit the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Surrounding magnificent mountains offer an opportunity to enjoy breathtaking natural beauty such as the Gavarnie Falls.