Outdoor Activities
 Lourdes makes an excellent base for visits to the Pyrénées. Tours of these snow-capped mountains are on offer and typically cross the border into Spain, and horseback riding is a popular option in the Lac de Lourdes area, just three kilometres (1.8 miles) from Lourdes city. Golf, hiking, and spa visits are all available as well. One of most well-known thermal spas is Bagnères-de-Bigorre, located 23kms (14 miles) east of Lourdes.
 Golf
Created in 1998 and situated on the southern side of Lac de Lourdes, the Lourdes Golf Club is set in a lovely pine forest, overlooking a glacial lake against the dramatic backdrop of the Pyrénées peaks. The 18-hole, par 71 course covers an undulating 5,600m and welcomes visitors. Phone: +33 5 62 42 02 06.
Hiking
Through valleys and forested massifs, there are numerous routes of varying difficulty that hikers can enjoy here. In all, the area boasts 90kms (56 miles) of footpaths that are well-signposted and in some cases, circular. Routes begin in the villages situated on the slopes of Adé and Bartrès and in the valleys of Batsurguère, Ousse and Saint-Pé-de-Bigorre. Some are ridge paths with background views of the Pyrénées, and others are forest paths that eventually pass by rivers or lakes. There are routes suitable for children of all ages.
 Pic de Jer
An activity that the whole family can enjoy is a visit to Pic de Jer, which is a rocky peak that rises 933m above sea level. From the summit, there are great views of the area’s forests and farmland. You can reach its summit by taking the Pic de Jer Funicular, departing from the Esplanade des Proceswinos, in Lourdes’ centre. Once you reach the summit, you’ll find the entrance to some interesting caves known as Les Grottes de Jer. Phone: +33 5 6294 0041.
Planet Aquarium Pyrénées Lourdes
The aim of the Aquarium of the Pyrénées is to give visitors the opportunity to learn more about the aquatic flora and fauna of the region. It is both educational and entertaining in that you are able to observe over 55 species of freshwater fish in 27 different pools, and you can also find out more about some of their unusual habits. The range of natural formations and habitats of the Pic du Midi, the Adour estuary and the Gave de Pau can be observed in their various forms. Phone: +33 5 62 42 01 00.
 Pyrénées National Park
This national park is a short drive from Lourdes’ centre and well worth a visit for its scenery, hikes through its valleys and its native wildlife, including a resident population of bears. This is a place that’s an absolute must-visit if you’re travelling with children. Website: www.parc-Pyrénées.com/.
 Skiing
This area attracts many winter visitors, who come to enjoy the excellent skiing conditions found in the Pyrénées. The Hautes-Pyrénées region boasts one-third of the ski resorts in the Pyrenean massif, which are fully-equipped to provide tourists with every amenity necessary for a top-notch experience. The resorts at the higher elevations offer excellent snow cover throughout the ski season.
Cultural Activities
Lourdes is noted as one of the most culturally-endowed cities in the Pyrénées region of France and features museums dedicated to the religious history of Lourdes as well as to art and folk history. The well-regarded Pyrenean Museum is devoted to local traditions and art, and the Little Lourdes attraction chronicles the history of Lourdes from a religious perspective from the mid-19th century.
 Gemmail Museum
Use of the ‘gemmail’ technique is the focus of the art collection in this museum. In fact, the entire collection of paintings illustrates the works of the masters of this technique, which is used with non-leaded stained glass. First introduced by artist Jean Crotti and a physician, Emmanuel Malherbe, in 1939, the art form combines colour, glass and light in the same piece - without the use of fragile lead assemblies. Phone: +33 5 62 94 13 15; website: www.gemmail.com.
Little Lourdes
Little Lourdes re-creates the local world in miniature and takes visitors back in time to discover the beginning of the Lourdes experience. From a starting point in 1858, visitors can meander through this natural environment and admire the old stone houses, the mills and the streams. The entire environment has been re-constituted and set amid flower and bonsai gardens. Phone: +33 5 62 94 24 36.
Nativity Museum
The museum depicts the birth and childhood of Jesus in a re-created, ancient setting. A nativity scene has been constructed to resemble the Bethlehem area, and a Pyrenean village crib is used for Jesus’ birthplace. More than 100 figurines are found around the crib, representing biblical characters important at the time of the nativity. Phone: +33 5 62 94 71 00.
 Pyrenean Museum
The popular art forms and folk traditions of the Pyrenean area are presented in a setting symbolic of the history of Lourdes. The attraction was created in the early 1920s by Louis and Margalide Le Bondidier. There are 18 rooms and permanent outdoor areas that are part of the overall exhibit, representing the culture of the local mountain-dwelling people. You’ll see models of typical houses, a typical Bigourdane room, a Béarnaise kitchen, furniture from the church of St Pierre de Lourdes, traditional costumes and earthenware. Phone: +33 5 62 42 37 37.
 Wax Museum
Both children and adults are sure to enjoy a visit to the local wax museum, known as Musée Grévin. The main displays at the museum depict the lives of Bernadette and Jesus. There’s also a reproduction in wax of da Vinci’s Last Supper. Phone: +33 5 62 94 33 74.
Dining & Shopping
A full complement of French and international eateries is on offer to visitors to Lourdes, but it is the local cuisine that is most tempting to visitors. The cuisine of the south-west of France has become known for its unique flavours and use of locally-produced ingredients.
 A Lourdes soup speciality known as la garbure is a nourishing blend of vegetables and haricots (beans), often served alongside the slowly-cooked camayou, or boned leg of ham. The ham is cooked for a full day and then served on a heated dish into which red wine has been poured. This process is known as faire chabrot.
Les confits are also typical of the Hautes-Pyrénées, a conserve made from either duck or goose and pressed in fat. Les confits are served at any time, but often when someone comes to visit, and are served with haricots(beans). Special local sweets are made at the Malespine pastille and are known as ‘water sweets.’ They are made using the special water found at the Lourdes grotto, fine sugar, natural mint flavouring and lemon or aniseed.
 Shopping in Lourdes doesn’t necessarily mean visits to the trinket shops. There are numerous markets in and around the city where handicrafts and local art are on offer, often incorporating ages-old regional techniques.
Popular buys in Lourdes include statues that are created by local sculptors of the Virgin Mary and numerous Catholic saints. Plaster of Paris is the medium used, and the resulting statues are then polished and painted. This local art form is very labour-intensive and the finished products are typically of excellent quality.
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