Please wait
Discover curated tours, authentic experiences, and expert local insights.
Your order is being processed, please wait
Our team will get back to you within 1 business day.
Obtain exclusive travel trade rates. Our team will get back to you within 1 business day.
Learn the History of the Marian Apparitions
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 more than ten thousand pilgrims.
Today, around six million people visit Lourdes each year. Due to the consistent stream of pilgrims and tourists, Lourdes has become the second most important center of tourism in France, following Paris. It is now the third most important international Catholic pilgrimage site.
Enjoy a walking tour of the Sanctuary of Lourdes with your guide. You’ll learn about the history of the Marian apparitions and visit the mains shrines of the Sanctuary, as well as other locations that played an important role in Lourdes’ history. Visits include the Crypte, the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, the Basilica of the Rosary and the impressive underground Basilica Saint Pius X.
Meet your English speaking Licensed Tour Guide
Meet your English speaking local guide at a dedicated meeting point in Lourdes. By default we will set the meeting point in front of the Lourdes Tourism Office, but if you wish we can agree to another meeting point if that suits you better. Then you will have different options concerning your walking tour. You can either make your way to the Sanctuary where your guide will take you to the most important sites. Or, if you are interested in the life of Bernadette, there is also an option to follow a tour that will take you to the place where the young girl lived in Lourdes. At the beginning of your walking tour, don't hesitate to let your guide know which options you would be interested in.
Visit the Sanctuary
Begin your 2-hour guided walking tour with the visit of the Sanctuaries of Lourdes. The ensemble is the largest pilgrimage site of the town. Here, all the major churches are located as well as the grotto where the apparitions of the Virgin Mary took place. Visits include the Crypte, the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, the Basilica of the Rosary and the impressive underground Basilica Saint Pius X.
Stop at the Grotto
Walk towards the Grotto of the apparitions and enter beneath the rock. See the spring and the famous statue of Our Lady of Lourdes, an unforgettable experience. The Grotto is the site of the extraordinary events which took place in 1858. The niche where the statue is placed marks the place where the Virgin Mary most often stood. Iit is like a window that opens onto the kingdom of God.
The Grotto is a place of prayer, hope, peace, respect, unity and silence. When passing through the Grotto or standing in front of it, each person has his or her own personal understanding of what it means. There, it is possible to fill bottles of the water of Lourdes and take time to meditate near the Grotto.
On the footsteps of Bernadette, visit the Boly Mill
During this walking tour in town, visit the house of Bernadette, the Boly Mill and then reach the ‘Cachot’, the small room where the family lived in the most difficult times. Bernadette Soubirous was born in this millhouse on the 7th of January of 1844. She lived in the water-mill with her parents for ten years. At that time, it was part of the numerous water-mills located on the edges of the river called “the Lapacca” and flowing into the river Gave de Pau. Inside you will discover the bedroom where Bernadette was born, the kitchen and the ancient water-mill with its grindstones. After 10 years of a happy life in the Mill, a set of tragic events will force the family to leave the Mill, not able to pay the rent anymore.
Visit the Cachot
By 1857, the Soubirous family fell on hard times and were obliged to move from the Boly Mill to what was a former prison, 'Le Cachot' (the cell). This small 16 square meters room (170 square feet) became the home of the family that was composed of the parents, Bernadette, her sister and her two brothers. It is at this time that the apparitions took place the first of which takes place on February 11, 1858.
Private Guided Walking Tour of Lourdes: The Sanctuary & Bernadette’s Story
Discover the spiritual heritage of Lourdes on a private, 2-hour walking tour with an English-speaking licensed guide. Explore the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, learn about the Marian apparitions reported by Bernadette Soubirous in 1858, and choose whether to focus on the main shrines or follow Bernadette’s story through the town.
Meet your guide in front of the Lourdes Tourist Office, the default starting point for your tour. An alternative meeting point in Lourdes can be arranged in advance to suit your plans.
Before setting off, discuss your interests with your guide. Your walking tour can focus on the Sanctuary and its religious landmarks or include places associated with Bernadette’s life, such as the Boly Mill and Le Cachot. Your guide will adapt the route to your priorities within the 2-hour tour.
Learn how Lourdes became a major Catholic pilgrimage destination following Bernadette Soubirous’s reports of eighteen apparitions of the Virgin Mary in 1858. Your guide will introduce the events behind this history and explain their significance to the pilgrims who come to Lourdes.
As you explore, gain a deeper understanding of the town’s religious heritage and the connection between Bernadette’s story and the Sanctuary.
Follow your guide through the Sanctuary to discover its principal places of worship. Depending on your chosen route and access on the day, visits may include:
The Crypt, an intimate place of worship within the Sanctuary.
The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.
The Rosary Basilica.
The impressive underground Basilica of Saint Pius X.
Your guide will explain the history and significance of these sites, allowing time to appreciate the atmosphere of this pilgrimage destination.
Visit the Grotto, where Bernadette reported the apparitions of the Virgin Mary. See the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes, positioned in the niche associated with the apparitions, and discover the story of the spring.
This part of the tour offers an opportunity for quiet reflection or personal prayer. Whether you visit for faith, history, or cultural discovery, experience the Grotto at your own pace while respecting its atmosphere of silence and devotion.
If you choose to explore Bernadette’s life in Lourdes, visit the Boly Mill, where she was born on 7 January 1844 and spent the first ten years of her childhood.
Discover the family’s former living quarters, including the bedroom where Bernadette was born, the kitchen, and the old mill with its grindstones. Your guide will describe her early years and the hardships that eventually forced the family to leave their home.
Continue to Le Cachot, a former prison room where the Soubirous family lived after falling into poverty. Measuring approximately 16 square metres, this small space housed Bernadette, her parents, her sister, and her two brothers.
The family was living here when Bernadette reported the first apparition on 11 February 1858. Visiting Le Cachot provides a glimpse into her daily life and the circumstances surrounding the events that would transform Lourdes.
This tour suits history lovers and travelers interested in Catholic heritage, pilgrimage traditions, and Bernadette Soubirous’s life. Its private format allows guests to discuss their interests with an English-speaking guide and choose between exploring the Sanctuary of Lourdes and discovering the places connected to Bernadette’s story.
No answer matches your search. Try using different keywords.
Payments secured by Stripe
Free cancellation on most tours
Verified traveler reviews only
Book your experience with complete peace of mind. All payments made on Ophorus are securely processed through Stripe, a trusted international payment platform.
Your payment information is encrypted and handled directly by Stripe. Ophorus does not store your credit card details.
You can pay safely using the available payment methods displayed at checkout. Once your payment has been confirmed, you will receive your booking confirmation by email.
We understand that travel plans can change. That is why many Ophorus experiences include flexible cancellation conditions, allowing you to cancel your booking free of charge when the request is made before the applicable cancellation deadline.
The exact conditions depend on the type of experience booked, the departure date and any services included. Your cancellation policy is clearly displayed on the experience page and during the booking process, so you can review it before confirming your reservation.
Some tickets, tastings, meals, accommodation or third-party services may be non-refundable. When a cancellation qualifies for a refund, the amount is returned using the original payment method.
For full details, always refer to the cancellation conditions associated with your booking and to the Ophorus Terms of Sale.
At Ophorus, reviews help future travellers choose their experience with confidence. The feedback displayed on our website comes from customers who have booked or participated in our tours.
Reviews are collected after the experience, allowing travellers to share their honest opinion about the guide, itinerary, organisation, transportation and overall quality of the tour.
We value transparency and do not edit reviews to change their meaning. Positive and critical feedback both help us maintain high standards, improve our services and provide clear, useful information to future guests.
Our reviews may also be collected and displayed through trusted independent platforms such as Tripadvisor or other recognised travel review services.
