Enjoy watching!

- Modern Times

Today, Lourdes is not only a religious center but also a tourist town with a developed infrastructure.
Lourdes is a small town in southwestern France, located at the foot of the Pyrenees. Its history is rich and diverse.

- Ancient and Medieval Times

The area of Lourdes has been inhabited since prehistoric times. During the Roman period, there was an oppidum, a fortified settlement, on the site of the current fortress. In the 5th century, an early Christian church was built on the site of a pagan temple.

- Muslim Rule and the Middle Ages

From 732 to 778, Lourdes was occupied by Muslims from Al-Andalus. The local leader, Mirat, refused to surrender to Charlemagne but later converted to Christianity and handed over the fortress.

- Modern Era and Apparitions of the Virgin Mary

Lourdes gained modern fame in 1858 when 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous experienced visions of the Virgin Mary in the Massabielle Grotto. These apparitions were recognized as worthy of veneration by Pope Pius IX in 1862, and Lourdes became an important pilgrimage site.

- Pilgrimage and Religious Tourism

Since then, Lourdes has attracted millions of pilgrims from around the world. Numerous religious structures have been built in the town, including a basilica erected above the grotto in 1876 and a massive underground church capable of accommodating 20,000 people, which opened in 1958.

свернуть