DESCRIPTION :
Following the reports that Our Lady of Lourdes had appeared to Bernadette Soubirous on a total of eighteen occasions in 1858, Lourdes has developed into a major place of Roman Catholic pilgrimage and of miraculous healing. The 150th Jubilee of the first apparition took place on 11 February 2008 with an outdoor mass attended by approximately 45,000 pilgrims. Today Lourdes has a population of around 15,000 but is able to take in some 6,000,000 pilgrims and tourists every season. With about 270 hotels, Lourdes has the second greatest number of hotels per square kilometer in France after Paris.
ITINERARY
DAY 1 LOURDES VISIT / LOURDES NIGHT PROCESSION
In the morning depart with your own personal driver guide for Lourdes and once in Lourdes begin with the visit of the sanctuaries. Here you will not only see the grotto but will also visit the three church's that were built on site, one on top of the other. After some free time for lunch, follow your guide as he takes you on the footsteps of Bernadette. First discover the birthplace of Benadette, the Boly Mill, the house of the family when the father ran a mill. Then, discover the Cachot, a tiny cell where the family lived during harder times and at the time of the apparitions. After the visit, check in at your hotel. In the evening you will be able to participate and follow the night procession (on your own). Night in Lourdes.
DAY 2 LOURDES / ST BERTRAND DE COMMINGES / TOULOUSE
Next day your morning is free for personal discovery of the sanctuaries. In the afternoon, depart for Toulouse and stop on your way to discover the outstanding cathedral of St Bertrand de Comminges. Dating back to the early Middle Ages, the building was continually enhanced with architectural and decorative features until the 16th century. As a result, the Gothic cathedral is a blend of three churches, each from a different era and with its own style, where you will admire the square Romanesque clock tower, the door lintel representing the twelve apostles, the tympanum embellished with the Adoration of the Magi, a Romanesque cloister steeped in a palpable spiritualism, as well as a wooden chancel and a superb organ case - all jewels of the Renaissance. Enjoy a guided tour of the cathedral and return to Toulouse.
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When :
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From March to November
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Duration :
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2 days - multi day tour departing from Toulouse
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Availability :
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Every day
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Place departure :
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Hotel pick up
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Return details :
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Drop off at Hotel
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Prices :
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Inclusions :
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Exclusions :
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1. Guided walking tour of Lourdes
2. Guided walking tour of St Bertrand de Comminges
3. English speaking driver-guide
4. Pick up and return at hotel
5. Bottles of water in the minivan
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1. Personal expenses
2. Meals and drinks
3. Entrance fees to monuments, museums or attractions, wine tasting fees
4. Gratuities
5. Accommodation
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Price information :
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Additionnal informations :
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- Program and Prices are listed as a guide only
- Prices are per minivan
- Currency is in EUR
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- Small group tours of maximum 8 passengers
- Confirmation of the tour will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
- Tour is operated in English unless otherwise stated
- This tour is not wheelchair accessible
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