Lourdes from Madrid or Barcelona

I%26#39;m visiting Madrid in early Nov %26amp; would like to visit Lourdes. does anyone know best way to get there from Spain. I won%26#39;t have a car. Also would love advise on what to see %26amp; hotels.

Thanks

Meg

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The airport for Lourdes is at Tarbes and the other option is by train and you will need to change at Hendaye and Dax. A better way might to be to fly from Madrid to Toulouse and then get the train.

It should be quieter in November and the main thing to see is the grotto just by the main church along the main pilgrim promenade. There are a number of places like where Bernadette was born, but the local tourist office or French national tourist office should be able to advise. There are various churches (including the underground church (Pope Pius XII church). There is a little train that goes around the town, but I am not sure whether it will be operating in November (November 11th - Armistice Day - is a national hoiday and not everywhere may be open). Lourdes does not have a lot of hotels but at this time of year it should be easier to get accommodation.

By the way the water by the grotto is not treated and should not be should not be drunk, you can get wet by the taps there so stand a foot away from the tap. Most shops sell Bernadette gifts and are the main tourist sellers.

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I posted a similar query about going to Lourdes from Barcelona. Did some research too. Flying is best from Barcelona to Toulousse (train ride is 6 hours) , and train from Toulousse to Tarbes Lourdes. From this train station, it%26#39;s only a 15 to 20 minute walk to the main pilgrim site. You may take a cab from the train stn to the church for less than 10 euros. (From Lourdes Tarbes Airport to the church is 20 euros). If you%26#39;re Catholic, you may want to do any or all of these things: hear the 10 or 11 am mass at the church and the 11pm mass by the grotto, hear confession, do the baths (2 pm), do the station of the cross, join the 9 pm procession. There are modest hotels near and around the church , cheap at 50 euros, and some small diners where you can order a confit or magret de canard for less than 15 euros.

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Meg,

Most of the hotels close for the %26#39;off-season%26#39;. We were at Lourdes last week and many are already closed. We stayed at the Saint Saveur - they stay open year round. Very nice hotel. The staff was wonderful and spoke very good english. Rooms are clean, but small (by US standards). The hotel is about two blocks from an entrance to the grotto. Check in the Information Centre at the grotto for the days calendar. The Info centre is also where they show the free 30 minute movie about St. Bernadette, which is worth viewing. If you need a taxi, we had a wonderful driver and arranged for him to pick us back up at the hotel and take us back to the airport. You can contact him at damien-taxis-lourdes@wanadoo.fr Lots of souvenier shops around. Purchase your candle(s) in the grotto.

Have a great trip.

Scott