The Iberian Wandering - Day 23: Lourdes, France!

We crossed into France this morning after an early departure from Ainsa.  The day started overcast and would have a few hours of sun ending back under overcast and sprinkling skies.

Views soon after emerging from the border tunnel into France:

We found parking near the Lourdes Sanctuary which is comprised of three basilicas: the Rosary Basilica, the Immaculate Conception Basilica and finally the Basilica of St. Pius X.

The crowds weren't too bad.  We checked out the inside of the first two basilicas and the surrounding sights.

The Sanctuary is a major pilgrimage site.  It's waters are believed to heal the sick and disabled.  We saw a lot of folks being wheeled about in their wheel chairs so the hope and faith is evident.

Our first look at the Sanctuary was this large group of pilgrims posing for a group photo.

Luckily, the photo was at the end of their tour of the Sanctuary and they slowly dispersed after the picture was taken. 

A statue of the girl, Bernadette, who experienced visions near the grotto.  The visions, the miracles attributed to the healing waters led to this site becoming the major pilgrimage site it's known as.

A view of the Chateau - Fort Pyrenees Museum, from the upper

basilica's entrance.

The Grotto, there's faucets nearby

Where one can get some of 

the healing water

Outside artwork

Some critics, call Lourdes the Disneyland of the Catholic Church.  They say it has become too commercialized.  

The local souvenir shops specialized and religious icons, figurines and art work of course.

I did find the availability of cheap plastic bottles so you can take home some of the healing water a bit supportive of the critics statements.

Lunch was at the Royal Brasserie...the food was OK, a bit overdone but fast so it worked out.

We next toured the Chateau Fort Pyrenees Museum after it opened from the lunch break.  Pretty cool fort with several local culture displays, nothing exciting so no pics, sorry.

There's lots of stairs to climb.  There's an elevator but it only climbs one floor to the main courtyard.

The views from both Chevalier Esplanades are quite nice and panoramic.

Lourdes Sanctuary 

You can climb up to the top of the main tower, but prepare to be disappointed by the views.  The openings are covered by Plexiglas panels which have been scratched up by graffiti!

A display of marble panels

At the rear of the Fort, there are several models/dioramas of churches, castles and simple farm houses as well.

The fort's main keep.  

A model of the Chateau - Fort:

One last pic of the Fort as we headed towards our hotel:

The Best Western hotel room that we got it's a bit of a come down from our last hotel room in Ainsa, Spain.  I rather doubt that we will find a similar room such as that last one during the remainder of this trip. 

We will be here two nights.