I did a 3 week pilgrimage in France with FOCUS and did a 3 day stop at Lourdes. It was my lifelong dream to go and it was an amazing place to be.
As with the other posters, I do agree on some things. I went to Lourdes around Bastille Day (July 14) and the weather was warm during the day and cold at night. It also rained while we were there. Our group had a cabin in the woods, which was about a 15 minute walk to town, but it was well maintained and had food included. There are tons of hostels there for everyone to stay at.
As such, I recommend good walking shoes, umbrella/rain coat, and a hat. Most of the day, our group did Mass early morning, did tours and wandered around the Grotto/shops during the day, and the candlelight vigils at night. It was beautiful, and the grotto itself is open 24/7. I spent a good chunk of my nights there.
I also recommend bringing BOTTLES. That water is DELICIOUS
And it also doesn’t spoil. If you can bring some home, I say go for it.
For the baths, just so you know, do it first thing (or right after Mass and there’s only a few English Masses), because you might end up waiting for awhile. At Lourdes, the poor/ill/medically handicapped are the celebrities. They are first for anything at Lourdes, so depending on how long you want to wait and how many people there are that day, that is up to you. Our group had reservations for after public bath times were over, and we still ended up waiting an hour or so. The water is FREEZING, but its worth it.
I also recommend doing the Stations of the Cross that go up a side of a mountain. That was an amazing experience (to me anyway), as it felt like actual Calvary. I wasn’t as fit then. Haha.
The only thing that bothered me about Lourdes is what I called Lourdes Vegas, where outside the gates of the main areas around the Grotto, there’s tons of shops and lights and restaurants that make it seem like they are just there to capitalize on the miracle. Regardless of it, though, it didn’t take away from the holiness of the place. That was the first place I really met Mary and I have always wanted to go back since.
Other places in France we visited:
St. Baume: Mary Magdalene (true relic, her cave is high up a mountain and its a beautiful trek up)
Toulouse: St. Thomas Aquinas
Nevers: St. Bernadette (incorrupt body)
Ars: St. John Vianney
Paray-le-Monial: St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
Paris: St. Catherine Laboure
Have a blast! Please pray for all of us here
