Around 6 million people visit this small French town just over the border from Spain. Most of them come as Catholic pilgrims.
In 1858 the Virgin Mary is supposed to have appeared in a grotto to a young French girl called Bernadette Soubirous. She appeared several times and in the years that followed a church was built, later becoming one of the most famous destinations for Catholic pilgrims. A spring, which appeared in the grotto at the same time as the first appearance, is supposed to have great healing powers.
Lourdes is also an important point of departure for trips to the Pyrenees. It has many hotels and hostels, great cuisine, as well as sights to see and museums.
