Lourdes, a town in the Hautes-Pyrénées set on the Gave de Pau, is famous the world over for its sanctuary. Yet the town offers far more: a thousand-year-old fortified castle housing the Pyrenean Museum, a 50-hectare glacial lake, several museums and direct access to the valleys of the Pyrenees. This guide brings together the essentials and points you to our detailed pages.
In this guide
- The Castle of Lourdes — Climb the thousand-year-old fortress that overlooks the town and discover the Pyrenean Museum, holder of the “Musée de France” label.
- The Lake of Lourdes — Take a breath beside the 50-hectare glacial lake, 3 km from the centre: walking, nature and outdoor activities.
- The Museums of Lourdes — Explore the town’s museums, from the famous Wax Museum to its local-history collections.
- Around Lourdes — Head out to the Pic du Jer and the seven valleys of the Gaves on a day trip.
Lourdes, a town at the foot of the Pyrenees
Set in the Hautes-Pyrénées, in the Occitania region, Lourdes is crossed by the Gave de Pau and backs onto the first foothills of the Pyrenees, of which it is one of the gateways to the valleys of the Gaves. With a mild, modified oceanic climate, the town has around 13,000 inhabitants. It owes its worldwide fame to its sanctuary — the fourth most visited Catholic pilgrimage site in the world, according to the Town of Lourdes — but it is also a place of heritage, nature and culture.
In 2024, the sanctuary welcomed around 3.6 million pilgrims and visitors, according to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. This spiritual dimension, linked to the apparitions of 1858 and to Saint Bernadette Soubirous, is covered in our dedicated guides. The present guide focuses on another side of Lourdes: the town itself.
For the site has been inhabited for a very long time. Traces of prehistoric occupation have been found in the surrounding caves: the famous “Horse of Lourdes”, a figurine carved from mammoth ivory, is dated to around 13,000 years ago, according to the National Archaeology Museum. Long before the pilgrimage, Lourdes was a stronghold of the Pyrenees, guardian of the valleys.
Built heritage, history, nature and culture thus make for a stay that complements a visit to the sanctuary. Many pilgrims extend their trip to discover the town and its surroundings, enjoying the calm of the Pyrenees after the fervour of the celebrations. Whether you come out of devotion or simple curiosity, Lourdes lends itself to a stay of several days, combining heritage, nature and relaxation. The sections below present each facet and point to our detailed pages.
For the spiritual dimension, see our guides on the Grotto and the Sanctuary and Bernadette and the Saints.
A little history: from stronghold to Marian town
Before becoming a place of pilgrimage, Lourdes was for centuries a strategic stronghold. Its history is largely bound up with that of its castle, perched on a rocky outcrop that locks the entrance to the valleys. This glacial bar overlooking the gave was occupied long before the Middle Ages: it is thought to have served as an oppidum and to have housed an ancient place of worship, perhaps dedicated to Mithras, according to the heritage department of the Vallées des Gaves.
According to a medieval legend recorded from the 12th century onwards, the town owes its name and its coat of arms to an episode from the 8th century. The Saracen chieftain Mirat, holding out in the fortress, is said to have resisted a siege by Charlemagne in 778. One day an eagle dropped a large trout among the besieged; Mirat threw it over the ramparts to suggest that he wanted for nothing. Charlemagne was about to lift the siege when the Bishop of Le Puy proposed a bargain: Mirat would keep the town by converting and placing it under the protection of the Virgin. He is said to have then taken the name Lorda, the origin of “Lourdes”. Historians regard this account as legendary and consider the origin of the name unknown, probably pre-Latin. The legend nevertheless inspires the town’s arms, which bear an eagle holding a trout.
The better-documented history begins in the Middle Ages. From the early 11th century, the castle was the seat of the Counts of Bigorre, who resided there until they moved to Tarbes in 1195. Its position commanded the exchanges between the plain and Spain, making it a constant military prize. The fortress was coveted during the Albigensian Crusade — Simon de Montfort besieged it in 1216 — and then during the Hundred Years’ War, when it passed into English hands from 1360 until the decisive siege of 1406–1407.
Beyond its military role, Lourdes was then a market town: its market, recorded as early as the 11th century and still active in the 14th, was a coveted resource. During the Hundred Years’ War, the castle, held by captains in the service of the King of England, for a time sheltered the dreaded “companions of Lourdes”, mercenaries who plundered the South-West before the surrender of the early 15th century.
In the following centuries, the castle gradually lost its role. During the Wars of Religion, the town was disputed and for a time came under the authority of the King of Navarre, Count of Bigorre and the future Henry IV. Later reinforced to withstand artillery, the fort became a state prison under Louis XIV. Decommissioned as a military stronghold in 1889, it was bought by the municipality of Lourdes in 1894, according to the heritage department of the Vallées des Gaves. The town, for its part, made the most of its position at the foot of valleys rich in thermal springs — Barèges, Cauterets, Bagnères. In the 19th century it was a stop on the spa route, and the mayor of the time, Lacadé, even sought to provide Lourdes with a mineral spring capable of attracting cure-takers, the spring at Massabielle having proved not to be mineral (heritage department of the Vallées des Gaves). Yet it was the pilgrimage, and not the spa trade, that would secure the town’s rise: the apparitions of 1858 transformed the modest town into one of the foremost pilgrimage sites in the Catholic world. Lourdes thus inherited a dual identity: a Pyrenean fortress on the one hand, a Marian town on the other.
The fortified castle and the Pyrenean Museum
Perched on its rocky outcrop in the heart of the town, the Castle of Lourdes has watched over the rooftops for almost a thousand years. A listed historical monument, it today houses the Pyrenean Museum.
The fortress changed roles over the centuries: residence of the Counts of Bigorre, military stronghold, then prison. It retains a remarkable defensive architecture, with its keep, its ramparts and the remains of a curtain wall once armed with nine towers. From the summit, the view opens onto the town, the sanctuary and the entrance to the Pyrenean valleys. Access is on foot or by a lift cut into the rock.
Within the walls, the Pyrenean Museum was founded in 1921 by Louis and Margalide Le Bondidier, two enthusiasts of the mountains. Their motto sums up the spirit of the place: “Let nothing Pyrenean be foreign to us” (Lourdes Tourist Office). Holder of the “Musée de France” label, it brings together important collections on the history and cultures of the Pyrenees, from the 18th to the early 20th century: rural and pastoral life, costumes, arts and folk traditions. A botanical garden extends the visit outdoors.
The castle is thus at once a historical monument, a viewpoint over the town and an ethnographic museum. It is one of the major heritage visits in Lourdes.
Read more → the history and visit of the fortress, its collections and practical information.
The Lake of Lourdes and the surrounding nature
About 3 km from the town centre, in the direction of Pau, the Lake of Lourdes offers a soothing natural setting, a peaceful complement to the town visit. It is a glacial lake of around 50 hectares, shaped by the ancient Pyrenean glaciers.
The site is renowned for its ecological richness. The lake and its peat bog, to the west, have been classified within the European Natura 2000 network since 2006, which protects remarkable habitats and species (Lourdes Tourist Office). The wetland acts as a natural filter and is home to protected flora and fauna.
Around the water, a trail of about 6 km makes for an easy walk, suitable for families, on foot or by bike. On site, you can also enjoy walking, running, mountain biking, fishing and water activities. Through the seasons, the peat bog hosts flora typical of wetlands and serves as a refuge for many birds and insects, making it a spot appreciated by nature lovers. The setting, between woodland and the reflection of the Pyrenees, contrasts with the bustle of the town centre. The lake is reached from the centre by road and by a bus line.
The lake is a natural interlude a short distance from the sanctuary, valued by visitors seeking quiet.
Read more → the glacial lake and its walking trail, access and natural heritage.
The town’s museums
Beyond the Pyrenean Museum, Lourdes has several themed museums that extend the discovery of the town and its history. They appeal to families as much as to visitors curious about art or local memory.
The best known is the Lourdes Wax Museum, sometimes called the Grévin Museum of Lourdes. Its life-size wax figures, made by the artistic teams of the Grévin Museum in Paris, depict the story of Christ and the life of Bernadette Soubirous. Along a route through several rooms, the scenes recreate the great episodes of that story, from moments of the Gospel to the events of 1858. The visit, audio-guided in several languages, is among the most popular tourist attractions in the town and is especially well suited to families.
Other museums explore the history of Lourdes and its memory, between religious heritage, art and traditions. Visitors can tailor their route to their interests. Please note: the Gemmail Museum, which displayed this art of layered, coloured glass, is closed for an indefinite period; works in gemmail nevertheless remain on view in the Basilica of Saint Pius X within the sanctuary. The list of open establishments, opening times and themes is given on the dedicated page.
Read more → an overview of the town’s museums and our visiting tips.
Around Lourdes: excursions from the town
The position of Lourdes, at the entrance to the valleys, makes it an excellent base for exploring the Hautes-Pyrénées. The town is often described as the “gateway to the valleys of the Gaves”, from which seven valleys radiate. Several sites can be visited in half a day or a full day.
On the edge of the town, the Pic du Jer offers, via its historic funicular, a sweeping view over Lourdes and the Pyrenean range. Further afield lie some of the great sites of the Pyrenees: the Cirque de Gavarnie, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the valley of Cauterets and the Pont d’Espagne, the Pic du Midi de Bigorre and the Pyrenees National Park. Nearby, the Bétharram Caves offer an underground visit by boat and little train.
These excursions are an ideal complement to a stay in Lourdes: to the town’s heritage is added the discovery of the Pyrenean landscapes. The destinations, distances and itinerary ideas are detailed on the dedicated page.
Read more → excursions from Lourdes, Pyrenean sites and itineraries.
The spa valleys, on the doorstep of Lourdes
South of Lourdes, the valleys of the Gaves are home to several spa towns inherited from the 19th century. Easy to reach, they add a dimension of wellbeing and heritage to a stay in the region.
The Hautes-Pyrénées has eight spa towns, several of them a short distance from Lourdes. In the valleys of the Gaves, the nearest are Argelès-Gazost, about 13 km away, then Cauterets, Luz-Saint-Sauveur and Barèges, a little further into the mountains.
Each has its own character. Argelès-Gazost, at 460 metres, charms visitors with its English-style park and Belle Époque architecture, to the point of being nicknamed “the little Nice” (Occitanie Thermale). Cauterets, at 1,000 metres on the edge of the Pyrenees National Park, is known for its naturally hot sulphurous waters and its 19th-century architecture. Barèges, at 1,250 metres on the road to the Col du Tourmalet, is the highest spa town in France. Luz-Saint-Sauveur, finally, preserves the memory of the stays of Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie in 1859.
This past is no mere footnote: it was in this imperial era that the famous “spa roads” linking the valleys were built, along with the golden age of the villas and casinos of the late 19th century. Long before, Catherine de’ Medici was already taking the waters at Cauterets in the 16th century (Tourisme Hautes-Pyrénées).
Today, these establishments offer state-approved spa treatments oriented in particular towards rheumatology, respiratory conditions and phlebology, as well as water-leisure areas and spas open to all (Vallées de Gavarnie). To reach these valleys from Lourdes, the Gaves greenway even makes it possible to link the town to Cauterets on foot or by bike.
Beyond the cures, these towns have shaped a genuine Pyrenean art of living: English-style parks, villas and casinos of the Belle Époque bear witness to the golden age of spa tourism. Further east, outside the valleys of the Gaves, Bagnères-de-Bigorre also carries on a tradition inherited from Roman times. For the visitor to Lourdes, these valleys offer a welcome contrast: to the recollection of the Marian town answers the quiet of the spa towns, within the same mountain setting.
Read more → the valleys and towns near Lourdes, access and itineraries.
Visiting Lourdes: practical pointers
How much time to allow, how to get around, when to come: a few pointers help in planning a visit to the town. The full practical detail is gathered in our pilgrim and visitor guides.
Lourdes enjoys a privileged location at the crossroads of the routes towards Spain, Toulouse and the Atlantic. The town is accessible by motorway, by its station on the Pyrenean foothills railway line and by Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées airport, about 27 km away; regional coaches also link it to the neighbouring valleys. With around 10,000 hotel rooms, it is the second-largest hotel town in France after Paris, according to the Town of Lourdes. Booking ahead is nonetheless advisable in high season.
For a first discovery, a day allows you to combine the fortified castle, a museum and a walk. A stay of two to three days leaves time to add the lake and an excursion in the surroundings; to combine the town, the lake and a getaway into the spa valleys, a long weekend is a good format. In season, a little tourist train serves the main sites of the centre. The high season runs from spring to autumn, with heavier visitor numbers in summer; winter is quieter and some sites close.
To prepare your visit → see our guide to planning your visit to Lourdes.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do in Lourdes besides the sanctuary?
Lourdes offers four main attractions beyond the sanctuary: the fortified castle and its Pyrenean Museum, the glacial lake and its outdoor activities, several museums including the Wax Museum, and excursions into the Pyrenees. Each is covered by a dedicated page in this guide.
Where does the name Lourdes come from?
According to a medieval legend, Lourdes takes its name from the Saracen chieftain Mirat, besieged by Charlemagne in 778: once converted, he is said to have taken the name Lorda. Historians regard this account as legendary and consider the origin of the name unknown, probably pre-Latin. The legend inspires the town’s coat of arms, which bears an eagle and a trout.
When is the best time to visit Lourdes to enjoy the town?
Spring and autumn offer the best balance: sites open and moderate crowds. Summer remains the high season, livelier but busier, while winter is quieter and some sites close. For heritage and nature, the period from April to October is the most favourable.
How do you get around between the sites of Lourdes?
The centre of Lourdes is easily explored on foot, with most sites close to one another. In season, a little tourist train serves the main sites of the centre, handy for linking them without tiring. The lake, further out, is reached by car or bus.
Can you visit the fortified castle of Lourdes?
Yes. The fortified castle, a listed historical monument, can be visited and houses the Pyrenean Museum, holder of the “Musée de France” label. You will discover a preserved defensive architecture, a view over the town and the Pyrenees, and collections on Pyrenean cultures. The details are given on the dedicated castle page.
Is the Lake of Lourdes far from the town centre?
No. The Lake of Lourdes lies about 3 km from the centre, in the direction of Pau. This glacial lake of around 50 hectares is ideal for a walk: a trail of about 6 km runs around it. The site and its peat bog are classified within the European Natura 2000 network.
Planning your stay? See our directory to find accommodation in Lourdes.
Sources and references
Online sources (consulted in June 2026)
- Town of Lourdes — lourdes.fr
- Lourdes Tourist Office — lourdes-infotourisme.com
- Castle – Pyrenean Museum of Lourdes — chateaufort-lourdes.fr
- Lourdes Wax Museum — musee-de-cire-lourdes.fr
- Heritage of the Pays des Vallées des Gaves (history, castle) — patrimoines-lourdes-gavarnie.fr
- Wikipedia, “Lourdes” and “History of Lourdes” — fr.wikipedia.org
- Tourisme Hautes-Pyrénées / Vallées de Gavarnie (spa towns) — tourisme-hautes-pyrenees.com, valleesdegavarnie.com
- Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes (attendance 2024) — lourdes-france.org
Internal editorial safeguard
- FR pivot glossary (document #15): attendance “around 3.6 million per year” (2024); fixed terminology.