Lourdes & Pyrenean Highlights

• Day 1 - To Paris outskirts for an overnight stay.
• Dec 2 - To Lourdes for a four-night stay. B,D
• Day 3 - Lourdes, Domaine of our Lady of Lourdes and Boly Mill, Cachot and Hospice.
  
  Domaine of our Lady of Lourdes (included) There will be free time this morning for you to explore on foot the Domaine of Our Lady of Lourdes, and visit the 'Grotte de Massabielle' where Bernadette Soubirous experienced visions of Mary Immaculate.
  
  Boly Mill, Cachot and Hospice (optional) In the afternoon more free time or join our optional guided walking tour with a visit to the Boly Mill where Bernadette Soubirous was born on 7th January 1844. We also visit the 'Cachot', a disused prison, where Bernadette and her family were living at the time of her visions. B,D
• Day 4 - Artoustes Little Train or Toulouse.
  
  Artoustes Little Train (optional - available on June to September departures only) The 'train d'Artouste' is the highest tourist train in Europe at 2000 metres. Take a cable car ride from Lac de Fabrèges to Col de la Sagette where you join the open-top 'Little Train'. The scenic train journey takes just under an hour, and then a short 10-15 minute walk leads to the Artouste Lake along marked paths. After an hour to relax and admire the scenery, the train takes us back to Col de la Sagette by the same route.
  
  Toulouse (optional) Enjoy the many treasures that Toulouse has to offer, including the St Etienne Cathedral and magnificent St Sernin Basilica. The Basilica is reputed to be the largest Romanesque church in the western world, and was an important calling point for pilgrims on the route of St Jacques de Compostelle. B,D
• Day 5 - Way of the Cross then Pau, or time for personal devotion
  
  Way of the Cross (included) Visit the Way of the Cross. The fifteen stations of the cross are represented in the open air at Lourdes either on the hillside or along the river Gave.
  
  Pau (included) In the afternoon we visit Pau, former capital of the Béarn region. Visit the château (optional), built as a fortress in 13th and 14th centuries - now housing an impressive collection of 16 -18th century Gobelins tapestries, and collection of Sevres porcelain.
  
  Torchlight Marian Procession (included) Take part this evening in a torchlight Marian Procession beginning from the Grotto at 9pm and ending in the square in front of the Rosary Basilica. - (Welcoming of pilgrims and announcements commence at 8.45pm.) During the procession everyone is invited to carry a lighted candle, and at the end of the procession the Priests and Bishops give the blessing. B,D
• Dec 6 - To the Convent of St Gildard at Nevers, enroute to Paris outskirts for an overnight stay.
  
  Convent of St Gildard (included) Today, enroute to Paris, we visit the Convent of St Gildard at Nevers. Bernadette joined the Sisters of Charity at the convent of St Gildard at Nevers where she lived as Sister Marie Bernard from 1866 until her death there in 1879. B
• Dec 7 - To Calais then home. B

B=Breakfast D=Dinner