43407NOR
Excursion includes
Lourdes visit of the Basilica
Pau visit with TM & lunch stop
· Whilst passports are not required to cross the France/Spain border they should carry some form of official ID with them
· The weather can be much colder than on the coast, so take appropriate clothing.
09:00 Departure from San Sebastian. Follow signs to France. After the border take the A63 (E05), the A64 (E80) to and the D940 to Lourdes.
11:00 Arrive in Lourdes.
Lourdes – visit
Follow signs to Lourdes centre and take the rue de la Grotte, cross the Pont Vieux then take the Ave Soubirous. You can drop off at the end of the street, where it joins the Bld de la Grotte. Make a rendezvous for departure and walk the group first to the Basilique du Rosaire (the crypt is reserved for private prayer). Then go to the Basilique Supérieure and from there take them to the Grotto (see map).
On the way back you can visit the Basilique Souterraine St Pie X, built in 1958 to mark the centenary of the visions. In the upper basilica the stained-glass windows tell the story of Bernadette from start to finish.
For those pax that would like to take holy water with them, they need to buy empty bottles outside the basilica complex – or bring their own in advance.
Also, for those who want to bathe in the waters…they need at least 2 hours (with waiting to get in and bathing and changing, etc.).
If your group want to explore Lourdes the other main attractions are:
The Cachot where Bernadette’s family were living in penury at the time of her visions.
The Chateau Fort with the Pyrenean museum.
Pic du Jer 900 metre peak with stunning views, accessible via funicular ( if you do this you will have to seriously reduce time elsewhere)
For deeply religious groups you might suggest making a detour via Barthes, a village 3 km from Lourdes off the D 940 to Pau. Here, you can visit the house of Bernadette’s foster parents (pax pay). Just before the village there is a
track, marked with a small shrine, leading to the sheep fold where Bernadette looked after the sheep.
12.45 Depart Lourdes. Take the D940 then the N117 to Pau.
13.30 Arrive in Pau.
Pau – visit
From the Motorway exit follow signs to the Chateau. This will take you down the Ave de la Resistance to the Place de Verdun. Follow signs to “Chateau and SNCF” down rue Corisandre and ask the driver to drop you on the Place Gramont. The bus can turn left and go back to the Place de Verdun to wait. Alternatively, there is parking at the foot of the castle. In this case, walk your group up the steps.
You should give your group time for lunch first, as it will be too late for groups to eat after you finish. Walk them around to the Castle first, if you have come up the steps. There are plenty of places for lunch in the old quarter near the castle. If you arrive late there are brasseries open serving lunch in the main square.
Give them about an hour and then meet again and start the walking tour. Your tour should take about one hour.
The weather in Pau is often cloudy and whilst on a clear day there is a great look out over the Pyrenees from the Boulevard de Pyrenees it is often too cloudy to see the view. Warn them in advance that this is typical weather in the Pyrenees and encourage them to look at postcards of the view so they can get an idea of the beauty of the area that they are missing!
If there is time after the walking tour, give them some free time for shopping.
16.30 Leave Pau. Take the N 1134, then the A64 and finally the A63.
18.20 Arrive San Sebastian