Follow the Footsteps of a Saint Through This Prized Pilgrimage Town

Depart for the town of Lourdes on this private full-day trip from Bordeaux. Your English-speaking local guide will be waiting at your hotel or accommodation in Bordeaux to go over the day's itinerary before boarding your premium air-conditioned minivan for the journey south.

Arrive in the Town of Lourdes

Following reports that Our Lady of Lourdes appeared to Bernadette Soubirous on eighteen occasions in 1858, Lourdes developed into one of the world's most important places of Roman Catholic pilgrimage and miraculous healing. Today, around six million people visit Lourdes each year, making it the second most visited city in France after Paris and the third most important international Catholic pilgrimage site.

Visit the Sanctuary of Lourdes

Your private tour begins with a guided visit of the Sanctuaries of Lourdes — the largest pilgrimage site in the town, where all the major churches are located alongside the grotto where the apparitions took place. Visits include the Crypt, the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, the Basilica of the Rosary, and the impressive underground Basilica Saint Pius X.

Stop at the Grotto of the Apparitions

Walk towards the Grotto of the Apparitions and enter beneath the rock. Here you will see the spring and the famous statue of Our Lady of Lourdes — an experience that leaves a lasting impression on pilgrims and visitors alike. The niche where the statue stands marks the exact place where the Virgin Mary most often appeared to Bernadette. It is possible to fill bottles with the waters of Lourdes and take time for quiet meditation near the Grotto.

Free Time for Lunch in Lourdes

After the morning visit, enjoy free time for lunch at your own expense. Lourdes offers numerous restaurant options — your guide will be happy to provide recommendations to suit your tastes.

On the Footsteps of Bernadette

The afternoon continues with a walking tour through town, tracing the life of Bernadette Soubirous. Visit the Boly Mill — the house where Bernadette was born on 7 January 1844 — and explore the bedroom where she was born, the family kitchen, and the ancient water-mill with its original grindstones.

Visit the Cachot

By 1857, the Soubirous family fell on hard times and were forced to move into what had been a former prison: le Cachot. This tiny 16 square metre room became the home of the entire family — parents, Bernadette, her sister and two brothers. It was here, in these most difficult of circumstances, that the apparitions began on 11 February 1858.

The Baths of Lourdes

It is possible to take part in the bathing experience in Lourdes. Inspired by the Virgin Mary's words to Bernadette — "Go and drink in the spring and wash yourself there" — the baths near the Grotto invite pilgrims and visitors alike to be immersed in the spring water. Whether a believer or not, this is a profound and moving experience, with separate waiting areas and cubicles for women and men.

If you wish to include the bathing experience, please inform the Ophorus team at the time of booking so that your programme can be organised accordingly. Please note that this tour requires a minimum of 2 adults to operate.