Day 1
We arrange flights from London, Dublin and regional airports to Biarritz, Toulouse and Tarbes. Your flight will be met by our Pilgrimage Director and transferred by coach to your hotel in Lourdes.

Half board starts with supper in the hotel.

Day 2
Petit train introductory tour
This is a fun ride and gives a good overall sense of Lourdes.

Walking tour of the places associated with St. Bernadette
The Boly Mill
Bernadette’s father had a water mill for grinding corn and it was here that Bernadette was born. She spent a happy childhood in the ‘mill of happiness.’ The failure of Francois Soubirous obliged the family to leave the mill for the Cachot. They stayed there from winter 1857 to the autumn of 1858. It was from there that Bernadette went to the Grotto to meet the Virgin Mary on eighteen occasions.

The Cachot
Prison cell until 1824, this was the room where Bernadette’s family lived after the collapse of her father’s business at the Boly Mill.
At the time of Bernadette: "the room was dark and unhealthy. The furniture consisted of two rough beds to the right of the entrance and a single small trunk for the linen." Today, after the renovations during the winter of 95-96, one can see in all its bleakness this room of 3.72m by 4.40m. which served at the same time as a kitchen, dining room, bedroom and a place of prayer for six people. The cachot is particularly poignant and reminds us that the Virgin Mary had chosen the poorest and the most ignorant to reveal to everyone that they have a special place in the sight of God. This paradox of Lourdes is nothing other than the paradox we see in the Gospels.
It is the property of the Sanctuary and visited by large crowds of pilgrims during the season. The Sisters of Charity of Nevers look after the building.

The Old Presbytery
At present, this is a public building, the Municipal Library. This is where Bernadette met the Parish Priest, Fr. Peyramale, to relay to the Church Authorities the message of the Blessed Virgin. We can still see the door that Bernadette used on her visits to Fr. Peyramale.
The Hospice of St. Bernadette
At the time of the Apparitions this was the Hospital-Hospice of "St. Roc" administered by the Sisters of Charity of Nevers. The Sisters also opened a school for the daughters of the poor. Bernadette was accepted there as a pupil between 1858 and 1866. It was in this Hospital-Hospice of "St. Roc" that Bernadette made her First Communion on 3rd June 1858. The present General Hospital is built on the site of the former Hospice.

The Church of the Sacred Heart
Built between 1875 and 1903, it retains many reminders of the old Parish Church of St. Peter that was destroyed. On the right hand side of the transept, is the Baptismal Font where Bernadette was baptised on 9th January 1844, as well as the statues of the Blessed Virgin and St. John the Baptist.
The original Basilica consists of three churches on three levels above and beside the Grotto.
This is a wonderful venue for Masses. There are fine mosaics in the late 19th Century style.

Dinner.

Cinema visit: the Life of St. Bernadette.

Day 3
The Stations of the Cross
At Lourdes there are 17 (lower) Stations of the Cross rather than the traditional 14. After the Burial in the Tomb are: Mary awaits the Resurrection (Stn 15); the Resurrection (Stn 16); and the Theophany as the Emmaus Disciples recognise Christ in the Eucharist (Stn 17). The sculptures, by Maria de Faykod, do exactly what they are meant to do: move the heart and soul toward God.

Ascent to the Pic de Jer
The Pic du Jer is the start of the Pyrénées and it overlooks Lourdes. It can be recognised by its great cross which shines at night. We will take the chairlift which goes to the summit some 1,000 metres in height. The ascent takes one through beautiful pine forests and at the summit there is a viewing table with an wonderful view over Lourdes, Tarbes and the Pyrenees.
We will look over the wild landscape of limestone plateaux, rocky pinnacles and verdant valleys. You may spot birds of prey, marmots and colourful butterflies.

The Grotte de Massabielle
We will seek solace in the miraculous Grotte de Massabielle, where Mary is said to have appeared to Ste Bernadette 18 times in 1858. The famous spring unearthed by young Bernadette is situated at the back of the cave. Admire the turrets and towers of the gigantic Basilique Notre-Dame du Rosaire and marvel at the intricate mosaics, frescoes and Italian marble of the interior.
We can visit at any time. Some Masses are said here. Sick and handicapped people, with their carers, can move to the head of the queue to enter the cave.

The Water
Water from the Grotto is taken to outlets nearby. Our Lady asked Bernadette to wash her face and drink , so that is what we do now.

Dinner.

Torchlight Procession
The Torchlight Marian Procession takes place each evening at 9.00 pm as it has done since 1872. There is a procession every evening round the Domaine (the area round the Grotto and churches)

Saying the rosary, singing hymns and carrying a candle in a paper lantern, this is a memorable experience and you will see that we always include two such processions.
The welcoming of pilgrims and announcements begin at 20.45.
The Evening Procession begins from the Grotto and ends in the square in front of the Rosary Basilica. Between torches, pilgrims carry a statue of Our Lady (a copy of the Cabuchet statue of the Blessed Virgin).
During the Procession, the pilgrims walk in groups behind their pilgrimage banner. Everyone is invited to carry a lighted candle in their hand – a reminder of Baptism.
At the end of the Procession, the Priests and Bishops present give the Blessing.

Day 4
Walking excursion to Bartres
The Pilgrimage to Bartres. (4 kilometres.)
This small village a few kilometres from Lourdes had an important role in the life of Bernadette. In November 1844 Bernadette was sent there to be wet-nursed by Marie Lagües. 13 years later she returned to the home of Marie Lagües, this time as a farm hand because Bernadette was one mouth too many to feed in a family where hunger was a daily reality. Her days were so full working on the farm, looking after the children of her foster-mother, looking after the lambs in the sheepfold, that Bernadette did not have the time to learn her catechism with the Parish Priest of Bartrès. In the evening, Marie Lagües would teach her the Catholic Faith. The pupil had difficulty in retaining her lessons to the annoyance of her former wet-nurse. Finally, on 21st January 1858 Bernadette returned to Lourdes to prepare for her First Communion.
The pilgrim who visits Bartrès to-day will find the sheepfold where Bernadette looked after the flock, the house of Marie Lagües (La Maison Burg) and the Parish Church.
On 26th March 2000, during the Bigorre Pilgrimage to Lourdes, Bishop Perrier of Tarbes and Lourdes, opened the Path to Bartrès. This pedestrian way was the one taken by Bernadette. It has been reopened for pilgrims and visitors.

Free time for shopping.
Transfer to the airport and return flight.