France · CATHOLIC PILGRIMAGE
Lourdes Catholic pilgrimage guide
Bring what is on your heart.
WHY PILGRIMS COME HERE
At Lourdes, prayer and care for the sick are inseparable. The Grotto of Massabielle, the water, and the sanctuary's liturgical life give pilgrims many ways to participate. St. Bernadette reported 18 apparitions between February 11 and July 16, 1858. No visitor should be promised a cure or pressured into a particular devotional practice.
Key facts
- Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes: February 11, also the World Day of the Sick.
- Main pilgrimage season: roughly April to the end of October; outside the season the Grotto is open but processions and many services are reduced.
- Daily in season: the Blessed Sacrament procession at about 5:00 p.m. and the Marian Torchlight procession at about 9:00 p.m., lasting about one hour.
- International Mass in the underground Basilica of St. Pius X (1958, about 25,000 places) on Wednesdays and Sundays in season; the Rosary Basilica dates from 1889 and the Upper Basilica from 1871.
- The Water Gesture (drinking, washing face and hands, and prayer at the taps) replaced general immersion in the baths in 2020; immersion has since been offered only in a limited form for sick pilgrims with assistance.
- Nearest airport: Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées, about 10 km; Pau about 45 km; Toulouse about 180 km (2 hours). A direct TGV links Paris and Lourdes in about 4.5–5 hours.
WHY PILGRIMS COME HERE
Pilgrim information: Mass, confession, hours and dates
Times are local and published by the sanctuary; verified October 4, 2026. Schedules change for feasts and seasons — confirm before you go.
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes
| Detail | Published information | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Sanctuary opening hours | Open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. | Source |
| Mass – Basilica of the Immaculate Conception | 9:30 a.m. daily (language not labelled on the schedule page). | Source |
| International Mass – Basilica of St Pius X | 9:30 a.m. International Mass in the Basilica of St Pius X, held every Wednesday and Sunday throughout the season. | Source |
| Mass – Adoration Chapel | 6:00pm Mass, Adoration Chapel (daily on the online schedule). | Source |
| English-language Mass | Not published on the official schedule (no language labels beyond "International Mass"). Check the sanctuary schedule or the Information Centre, +33 (0)5 62 42 20 08. | Source |
| Rosary at the Grotto | 3:00pm daily at the Grotto. | Source |
| Eucharistic procession | 5:00 p.m. daily in the Basilica of St Pius X, followed by adoration and the blessing of the sick. | Source |
| Marian torchlight procession | 9:00 p.m. daily on the online schedule. Season dates are not stated on the schedule page. | Source |
| Confessions (Reconciliation Chapel) | 10:30 a.m.–12:00 noon and 3:00–6:00 p.m. in the Reconciliation Chapel. Confessors' languages are not published on the schedule page. | Source |
| Eucharistic adoration | 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. in the Adoration Chapel (12:00 noon–5:00 p.m. on some days). | Source |
| Baths / water gesture | Baths 9:00–11:00 a.m. (from 2:00 p.m. on Sundays as listed); water gesture at the Grotto sacristy 9:00–11:00 a.m. and 2:00–4:30 p.m. Current immersion rules are not stated on the schedule page. | Source |
| Grotto access | The visit is silent; pilgrims may touch the rock, drink at the taps (spring water about 10 °C) and wash face, hands and forearms. No separate Grotto hours; the sanctuary is open 6:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m. | Source |
| Information Centre activities | Guided tour "In the Footsteps of Bernadette" 2:00 p.m.; Way of the Cross 10:30 a.m. on the days listed; film about Lourdes 4:00 p.m. | Source |
| Dress code and rules | Decent dress required; no beachwear or provocative clothing. No smoking, shouting (especially near the Grotto), eating on the grounds, begging, commerce, bicycles or scooters. Photos for personal use only. Grotto water is free; resale is forbidden. | Source |
| Security | Sanctuary guards, a Central Security Office and police ensure safety; "Pilgrims on Watch" volunteers report suspicious behaviour. No bag-check or prohibited-item list is published. | Source |
| Entry fee | No ticketing is mentioned on the official site; entry to the sanctuary is not charged on any page fetched. | Source |
| Drop-in centre for persons with disabilities | Nov–Apr: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 9:30 a.m.–12:00 and 2:00–5:00 p.m. Apr–Nov: daily except Sunday and Monday mornings, 9:30 a.m.–12:00 and 2:00–6:00 p.m. Tel. +33 (0)5 62 42 79 92. | Source |
| Basilica of St Pius X capacity | Underground basilica (1958) with 5,000 seats and room for 20,000 people; hosts the international Masses and the Eucharistic procession with blessing of the sick. | Source |
| Contact | Sanctuaire Notre-Dame de Lourdes, 1 avenue Monseigneur Théas, 65108 Lourdes cedex; +33 (0)5 62 42 20 08. | Source |
Key dates
| Date | What happens | Source |
|---|---|---|
| February 11 | Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and World Day of the Sick. Published pattern (2023 edition): 10 Feb 9:00 p.m. Marian procession; 11 Feb 10:00 a.m. International Mass, 3:00 p.m. Rosary at the Grotto, 9:00 p.m. torchlight procession. | Source |
| July 16 | Anniversary of the final (18th) apparition, listed among the sanctuary's feast dates. | Source |
| August 15 | Assumption, listed among the sanctuary's feast dates; the 2026 programme is not published on the pages fetched. | Source |
| December 8 | Immaculate Conception; the programme is not published on the pages fetched. Check the sanctuary's news page. | Source |
| 2026 pastoral theme | 'Path of Grace with Mary' (stated on the sanctuary home page). | Source |
Sacred places to discover
The Grotto of Massabielle
The heart of the sanctuary and the site of the 1858 apparitions; a place of quiet prayer open throughout the year.
Rosary Basilica
Consecrated in 1889; a place to reflect on the mysteries of the Rosary.
Basilica of St. Pius X
The underground basilica of 1958 holding about 25,000 people, used for the International Mass on Wednesdays and Sundays in season.
The water gesture
Drinking, washing, and prayer at the taps; spring water may be collected free. Confirm current arrangements for assisted immersion with the sanctuary.
Make the journey your own
- Pray quietly at the Grotto
- Join the 9:00 p.m. torchlight procession
- Participate in the water gesture as available
When to go
The main season, April through October, offers the full program of daily processions and the International Mass. February 11 is the feast and World Day of the Sick. In winter the Grotto remains open, but processions and many services are reduced.
Walking & practical expectations
Many sanctuary areas are level and accessible, and the sanctuary is organized around pilgrims who need assistance. Hotels, transport, and personal assistance still need individual confirmation. Carry-on liquid limits of 100 ml apply to Lourdes water; checked baggage is the usual way to bring more home.
Suggested pacing is planning guidance. Specific access, liturgies, and services require confirmation.
Planning this pilgrimage
Planning overview
Lourdes is a place where prayer and care for others meet. Begin with the Grotto and the sanctuary's current program, then shape the visit around your intention and abilities. St. Bernadette reported 18 apparitions between February 11 and July 16, 1858, and the main pilgrimage season now runs from about April to the end of October. Avoid treating every service and devotional activity as something you must complete.
Choose your rhythm
Two or three full days can leave space for Mass, a procession, the water gesture, and personal prayer. In season, the Blessed Sacrament procession takes place at about 5:00 p.m. and the Marian Torchlight procession at about 9:00 p.m., lasting about an hour; the International Mass is celebrated in the underground Basilica of St. Pius X (about 25,000 places) on Wednesdays and Sundays. Allow more time when accompanying someone who needs assistance. A good visit has room for ordinary meals and rest as well as worship.
Clarify water arrangements
Since 2020 the Water Gesture (drinking, washing face and hands, and prayer at the taps) has replaced general immersion in the baths; immersion has since been offered only in a limited form for sick pilgrims with assistance, and current practice should be confirmed with the sanctuary. Spring water can be collected free at the taps; for the flight home, the 100 ml carry-on limit applies, so larger bottles go in checked baggage. Neither the water nor the journey should be marketed as a medical treatment or a guaranteed cure.
Plan access across the whole trip
The sanctuary's welcome to people with disabilities does not automatically resolve hotel, airport, or vehicle access. The nearest airport is Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées (about 10 km); Pau is about 45 km and Toulouse about 180 km (2 hours); a direct TGV from Paris takes about 4.5–5 hours. Confirm each part of the journey and who provides personal assistance. A successful accessible pilgrimage depends on the complete journey, not a single favorable description of the shrine.
Can I visit Lourdes without joining every activity?
Yes. The Grotto is open throughout the year, and the two daily processions in season (about 5:00 p.m. and about 9:00 p.m.) and the Wednesday and Sunday International Mass are all optional. A well-planned visit can include personal prayer, rest, and a selected few services rather than every scheduled event. Organized groups may have practical meeting requirements, so agree on how independent time works.
Identify which activities are essential to the group and which are optional. Skipping an evening event to rest need not diminish the purpose of the pilgrimage.
Traveling with your priest? Find his pilgrimage.
Official sources cover institutional information. Suggested pacing and itinerary choices are planning guidance. Check current arrangements for your travel dates.
A ROUTE TO IMAGINE
Journey through Lourdes.
Sample itineraries. Confirmed departures and prices have not been announced.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Your questions, answered.
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LourdesWhat are the Mass and confession times at Lourdes?
LourdesLourdes baths: what to wear, why you come out dry, hours, and whether it costs anything
LourdesLourdes water: can you drink it, how to use it, is it holy water, and where to get it
LourdesThe recognized miracles of Lourdes: how many there are and how the Medical Bureau decides
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LourdesLourdes with kids: what to do in a day and how to time the four main things
EVERY PILGRIMAGE BEGINS WITH A FIRST STEP
Where is your faith
calling you?
Tell us what you have in mind. A place, a prayer intention, a parish, or simply a desire to go.
Start planning