Society of Our Lady of Lourdes Pilgrimage

Shrine of Lourdes

The Shrine of Lourdes, the heart and the reason why people come to Lourdes. Each itinerary with Tangney Tours will be built around visits the sanctuary. This will ensure that you get to experience everything possible. Visited by over 6 million people each year, it is a beautiful and rewarding place to visit.

Basilica of St. Pius X – Lourdes Underground Basilica

The Basilica of Saint Pius X, also known as the Underground Basilica in Lourdes, is a minor basilica located in the Sanctuary area in Lourdes.

The Underground Basilica was built in 1958 in anticipation of the crowds excepted to gather in Lourdes for the centenary of the Apparitions of the Virgin Mary appearing to St Bernadette.

The Basilica is a concrete building, built underneath the grounds of the Sanctuary and has a huge capacity of 25,000 people!

Torchlight Procession

The Torchlight Procession, also known as the Marian Procession takes place every day at 9pm during the Lourdes season running from April-October.

The procession starts at the Grotto and travels along to the esplanade of the Rosary Basilica.

Bartres

Bartrès, a little village in the mountains, and its surroundings where Bernadette Soubirou’s spent her childhood.

Bernadette first arrived in Bartrès in October 1845, when she was left to her nanny’s care. The latter, Marie Lagües, had just lost her son and was looking for an infant to take care of.

Bernadette stayed 9 months there then returned shortly to her parents’ in Lourdes. She was then brought back to Bartrès where she stayed until she was 21 months old. Later on, she went 2 to 3 times a year to visit her nanny.

In September 1857, she is 13 years old when her nanny, needing her help, asks her to come back to take care of her children and keep a few sheep and cows. Bernadette then went back to her family in 1858, the year the Virgin Mary appeared to her.

Gavarnie

Gavarnie’s reputation is built on the various explorations it has inspired. Botanists, scientists, romantics, painters, poets and mountaineers in search of exploits or sensations have, since the 16th century, made Gavarnie the birthplace of what is known as “Pyreneism”.

The cirque became legend when Victor Hugo, in his illustrious poem “Dieu”, described it as an “impossible and extraordinary object”, “the Colosseum of nature”. The Pyrenean Museum based in the Château-fort de Lourdes tells the story of Pyreneism.

Approximately a 90 minute coach ride from Lourdes, we offer this as an optional excursion which can be organised and paid for in Lourdes.

Lac de Lourdes

Just 3 km from the town centre heading towards Pau, the glacial lake of Lourdes is an amazing place to relax and enjoy a wide variety of activities. Bring your family and friends to discover this natural gem spanning 50 hectares.