Lourdes is a small French town and pilgrimage site located in the foothills of the Pyrenees in south central France. Until the mid 19th century, Lourdes was limited to a population of just a few thousand people, a market and a fortified castle. This changed dramatically after 1858 with claims of multiple Marian Apparitions (sightings of the Mother Mary) that brought this sleepy town into the limelight of France and the Catholic world. Over the years, Lourdes has become the largest Marian pilgrimage site in the world. Today, the once sleepy town attracts over 5 million visitors every year, making it the 2nd most popular tourist city in all of France. Lourdes Culture - Location & Orientation - Climate & When to Visit - Sightseeing Highlights - Recommended Itineraries - One Day in Lourdes - Two Days in Lourdes - Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes - Grotto of Massabielle - Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception - Basilica of Our Lady of Rosary - Crypt - Basilica of St Piux X - Rosary Square & other Churches - Museums - Wax Museum - Lourdes Museum - Little Lourdes Museum - Christi Museum - Museum of the Miraculously Healed - House Museum of St Bernadette - Lourdes Fort - Pic du Jer Funicular - Asson Zoo - Betharram Caves - Recommendations for the Budget Traveller - Places to Stay - Hotel Roissy Lourdes - La Solitude - Grand Hotel Gallia - Excelsior - Best Western Beausejour - Places to Eat - Da Marco - Arcades Restaurant - Le Parc - Ardiden - Hotel de l'Europe - Places to Shop - The Factory - Shopping at the Grotto - Boulevard de la Grotte - Monoprix Supermarket - Lourdes Covered Market