Top 5 Pilgrimages to Lourdes, France
Nestled in the foothills of the French Pyrenees, Lourdes has been one of the world’s great Catholic pilgrimage destinations since the nineteenth century. For pilgrims from the United States, the journey can be made as a focused visit to the shrine or as part of a longer pilgrimage through France, Spain, Portugal, or Italy.
The Story of Lourdes
The story begins on February 11, 1858, when fourteen-year-old Bernadette Soubirous reported seeing a beautiful lady in the Grotto of Massabielle near her hometown of Lourdes. Between February 11 and July 16, Bernadette experienced eighteen apparitions. The Lady called the young girl to prayer and penance and asked that people come to the site in procession and that a chapel be built there.
On March 25, 1858, the Lady identified herself with the words, “I am the Immaculate Conception”—a phrase particularly striking because Bernadette had little formal education. During the apparitions, Bernadette was also directed to uncover a spring, whose water became closely associated with the shrine’s ministry of prayer and healing. The Bishop of Tarbes formally recognized the apparitions in 1862, permitting the faithful to accept them as authentic.
Today, pilgrims come to Lourdes to pray at the Grotto, participate in Mass and the Rosary, visit sites associated with St. Bernadette, and join the Eucharistic and Marian processions. From April through October, the Sanctuary regularly offers the Blessed Sacrament procession and the evening torchlight Marian procession.
When Should an American Catholic Go?
Spring and fall are particularly attractive seasons. Catholic Journeys recommends April and May or September and October for generally pleasant weather and somewhat lighter crowds than the height of summer. The Sanctuary’s major outdoor processions also operate during the April-to-October pilgrimage season.
Several U.S.-Based Pilgrimage Options
1. Marian Pilgrimages USA: A Short Lourdes-Focused Journey
For Catholics who want to concentrate primarily on Lourdes, Marian Pilgrimages USA offers departures connected with major U.S. cities. Its 2026 schedule includes fall departures with approximately four nights in Lourdes, with departures advertised from cities including Boston and Chicago. Programs include a religious itinerary, guided sightseeing, hotel accommodations, and organized meals.
A Lourdes-focused itinerary typically allows pilgrims to spend several days at the Sanctuary rather than rushing through it. Activities can include the Grotto, the Basilica, sites associated with St. Bernadette, the baths or water gestures, the Way of the Cross, and the evening candlelight procession.
Best for: Pilgrims seeking a relatively short trip centered almost entirely on Lourdes.
2. Marian Pilgrimages USA: Lourdes and Fatima
For those wishing to visit two of Europe’s most important Marian shrines, Marian Pilgrimages USA has also offered a Lourdes and Fatima itinerary. A 2026 program departed from Boston on April 19, beginning with travel to Lourdes and then combining time in France with Portugal. The itinerary includes daily Mass, a walking tour of Lourdes, a visit to nearby Bartres associated with Bernadette, and time at the Sanctuary before continuing to Fatima.
This type of pilgrimage is ideal for Catholics who want to compare two great Marian places of prayer: Lourdes, with its emphasis on conversion and care for the sick, and Fatima, with its call to prayer and devotion.
Best for: Catholics who want a Marian pilgrimage rather than a single-destination retreat.
3. Select International Tours: A Multi-Shrine Marian Pilgrimage
An example of a more extensive American pilgrimage is a 11-day journey, October 6–16, 2026, promoted through Our Lady Queen of the Americas in Washington, D.C., and operated through Select International Tours. Its itinerary includes Fatima, Santiago de Compostela, León, Garabandal, Loyola, and Lourdes.
The Lourdes portion includes the Grotto, the opportunity for the baths, and a walking tour of sites connected with St. Bernadette. The broader journey also includes daily Mass, guided visits, and substantial exposure to the Catholic history of Portugal, Spain, and France.
Best for: Experienced travelers who want Lourdes to be part of a wider spiritual journey through the Iberian Peninsula and southern France.
4. JMJ Tours: Fatima, Spain, Lourdes, and Paris
JMJ Tours offered a 12-day/11-night pilgrimage from June 9–20, 2026, departing from Washington Dulles. The route moves through Fatima, Ávila, Salamanca, Zaragoza, Torreciudad, Lourdes, and Paris. Pilgrims spend two nights in Lourdes and may participate in healing prayer and the candlelight procession.
The itinerary also follows the footsteps of major Spanish saints and concludes in Paris, creating a pilgrimage that combines Marian devotion with the history of Catholic Europe.
Best for: Pilgrims who want to combine Lourdes with saints, sacred art, and several major Catholic shrines.
5. Catholic Heritage Tours: A Pilgrimage Through France
For someone who prefers to explore France in depth, Catholic Heritage Tours offered an 11-day pilgrimage from May 5–15, 2026, visiting Paris, Nevers, Chartres, Rouen, Ars, Lourdes, and other sites.
The itinerary creates a particularly meaningful connection between Lourdes and the life of St. Bernadette. Pilgrims first encounter the broader spiritual heritage of France and can also visit Nevers, where Bernadette spent her later years. In Lourdes, the program includes the Grotto, the sites associated with Bernadette, the Basilica, daily Mass, and the opportunity to join the nightly Rosary procession.
Best for: Catholics who want a comprehensive pilgrimage through France rather than a visit to Lourdes alone.
A Final Consideration
The best pilgrimage is not necessarily the longest or most ambitious one. A Catholic who feels called especially to Lourdes may find that several unhurried days at the Grotto are more spiritually fruitful than a rapid tour of many countries. The Sanctuary itself offers a structured three-day “Authentic Pilgrimage” experience built around Mass, prayer at the Grotto, the spring, confession, the baths, the Way of the Cross, and the major processions.
Before reserving a trip, pilgrims should carefully confirm current dates, departure cities, prices, accessibility arrangements, and what is included in the package. Group itineraries and air schedules can change. But whatever program one chooses, Lourdes invites the pilgrim to do something simple: slow down, pray, entrust personal intentions to Mary, and remember the central message given to Bernadette—a call to prayer, penance, conversion, and hope.