Things to do in Lourdes

Activities, attractions and tours
Photo provided by © ATOUT FRANCE/Danièle Taulin-Hommel
Photo provided by © ATOUT FRANCE/Danièle Taulin-Hommel

Explore thousands of activities with free cancellation and no added fees.

Design your experience with airport transfers, excursions, day tours & more.

Get an insider's look in what to book before you travel.

Top places to visit

1. Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary

Step into an explosion of color and artistry in the impressive Basilica of Notre Dame du Rosaire, which is also known as the Rosary Basilica. This Byzantine-styled cathedral is smaller than its two neighbors, but is perhaps more artistically striking. Visit this active place of worship and stay to marvel at the mosaics.
Learn more
Rosary Basilica featuring heritage elements, interior views and a church or cathedral

2. Massabielle Grotto

The Grotto of Massabielle, also known as the Grotto of Apparitions, is visited by about 6 million pilgrims every year. Visit the site of a spring which was unearthed by a teenage peasant in the 19th century after a visitation from the Virgin Mary. Hear stories of how the water that flows here is said to have healed countless visitors since it was first discovered.
Learn more
Grotte of Massabielle featuring religious aspects as well as a large group of people

3. Basilica of the Immaculate Conception

Join flocks of devoted pilgrims on a trip to the Basilica of Notre Dame de l’Immaculée-Conception. This distinctive landmark is hard to miss; a towering 19th-century church that sits above the Grotto of Massebielle, a world-famous pilgrimage destination. Visit to marvel at the architecture and to experience a moment of reflection inside the hushed interior.
Learn more
Notre-Dame de l\'Immaculee-Conception showing heritage architecture and a church or cathedral

4. Basilica of St. Pius X

Travel to Lourdes and there is a slim chance you will miss the Basilica of St. Pius X. Although this cathedral is impressively large, it’s also built entirely underground. Stand in awe of its gigantic nave and watch as it fills with tens of thousands of pilgrims thronging to the town on religious feast days.
Learn more
Basilica of St. Pius X which includes a church or cathedral and interior views as well as a large group of people

5. Lourdes Covered Market

The Lourdes Covered Market offers a fascinating insight into the customs and culinary traditions of the region. Its many stalls, serving up all kinds of food, are sheltered beneath the roof of a late 19th-century structure. Chat with the local vendors and enjoy the gastronomic delights in this bustling market.
Learn more
Lourdes Covered Market which includes interior views and markets

6. Lac de Lourdes

The Lac de Lourdes is a spectacular basin of water surrounded by undulating verdant terrain. The stunning lake covers an area of 128 acres (52 hectares) and sits just outside the city center of Lourdes. It makes for a serene and picturesque setting. Bring the whole family to enjoy the range of activities around this glacial lake.
Learn more
Lac de Lourdes featuring a lake or waterhole and a garden

7. Pic du Jer

Picturesque Lourdes is a historic town ensconced by the Pyrenees and one of the best ways to see it in its context is from the top of Pic du Jer. Ride to the top of the mountain on a charming old funicular railway. Once you are there, follow walking trails and find an observatory for panoramic views of this stunning corner of France. Make sure you bring your camera to the top of the peak so you can capture memories of this special place.
Learn more
Pic du Jer featuring tranquil scenes, views and mountains

8. Château Fort Pyrenean Museum

The Château Fort Pyrenean Museum is both a thrilling historical landmark and an important museum documenting life in the surrounding region. Conquer the ramparts of a fortress that has stood here for a thousand years, safe in its strategic location above the town of Lourdes. Then, head inside to a museum packed with artifacts from the Pyrenean past to learn about life in the mountains over different eras.
Learn more
Chateau Fort Pyreneen Museum which includes a bridge, heritage architecture and a river or creek

What to do in Lourdes

Popular places to visit

Image for Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary

Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary

4.5/5(52 reviews)

The smaller basilica in the Sanctuary of Notre Dame de Lourdes is an artistic marvel, famed for its colorful mosaics and themed chapels.

Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary
Image for Massabielle Grotto

Massabielle Grotto

5/5(43 reviews)

Join the millions of visitors who flock to one of the most famous pilgrimage sites in the world, a place associated with miraculous visions and healing waters.

Massabielle Grotto
Image for Basilica of the Immaculate Conception

Basilica of the Immaculate Conception

4.5/5(52 reviews)

One of the most eye-catching monuments in Lourdes is the basilica that sits above the grotto, part of a wider sanctuary of impressive churches.

Basilica of the Immaculate Conception
Image for Basilica of St. Pius X

Basilica of St. Pius X

5/5(33 reviews)

Marvel at a 20th-century subterranean cathedral with a huge capacity, built to accommodate the masses of devoted pilgrims visiting Lourdes.

Basilica of St. Pius X
Image for Lourdes Covered Market

Lourdes Covered Market

Get a taste for Lourdes through its eclectic array of honeys, jams, wines and cheeses in this quaint covered market.

Lourdes Covered Market
Image for Lac de Lourdes

Lac de Lourdes

5/5(4 reviews)

Go mountain biking or trekking around the circumference of this vast and picturesque lake that stands beside a golf course.

Lac de Lourdes
Image for Pic du Jer

Pic du Jer

4.5/5(6 reviews)

Ride a historic funicular railway up the side of a mountain for stunning views of the pilgrimage town of Lourdes, framed by the Pyrenees.

Pic du Jer
Image for Château Fort Pyrenean Museum

Château Fort Pyrenean Museum

4.5/5(7 reviews)

Stand at a spectacular vantage point overlooking the town of Lourdes, then head inside a thousand-year-old fortress to learn about life in the Pyrenees.

Château Fort Pyrenean Museum
Image for Eglise Paroissiale du Sacré Coeur

Eglise Paroissiale du Sacré Coeur

Marvel at the ribboned marble pillars that form an internal colonnade, and look up at the iconic central clock tower of this large church.

Eglise Paroissiale du Sacré Coeur

 

Looking for fun things to do nearby? Check things to do near me to find and book the best things to do, fun activities, and top attractions wherever you happen to be.