Following Paris we went to Lourdes. (my wife has the QR code, I have only the CDC card so far). Our first time, so I can’t compare experiences with pre-Covid, but it was a beautiful visit. Hotels, gift shops, and restaurants are clearly hurting there because that area thrives from large pilgrimages, and many pilgrimages are canceled this year. Therefore some of the larger hotels shut down until 2022. Yet, for us, the smaller crowds weren’t all bad. We’re Catholic and all of the normal things were available (except for the baths and apparently a musical about Lourdes)… everything that we wanted to do was open and many great hotels and b&b’s are open. Everyone is masked and socially distanced. Everyone accepted my CDC card without a problem. I was so happy to have this experience. I can’t provide any advice on if travel will stay open, but if I was ready to go, and the doors were open to France, I’d jump at the chance.
Posted by
Ohio
2161 posts
Hi Jay, I’m glad you enjoyed your visit to Lourdes. I was just brainstorming some itineraries today involving this area. Next spring, we will be traveling from Paris by train, possibly stopping for one night in Lourdes, then taking the train to Bayonne. Did you take the train from Paris? Is the station near the shrine? Any tips for one afternoon and the following morning visit?
Posted by
OP
15 posts
We took a plane… but if I had to do it again, I’d take a train and spend 2 nights in Lourdes… it was so pleasant. We stayed at a place called Hotel Villa L’Orante… it’s more like a “bed and breakfast”…. They had AC but at night we slept with the doors open so we could hear the River. They had a bath you could lounge in to relax and only minutes of walk to the grotto. I could have stayed there a week and would be happy… that said, to be honest, I want one more night in every place we’ve stayed, so you can’t go wrong.
Posted by
Ohio
2161 posts
Jay, thank you for responding. I looked at the website for the hotel you recommended and it looks like it’s only a half mile from the train station and as you noted, close to the grotto. I will talk to my travel partner about spending 2 nights in Lourdes. We’re doing the RS Basque tour so this fits right in. Glad you enjoyed your trip.