Lourdes to Luz-St-Sauveur

The cloud was down below us when we woke up and it gradually moved upwards until it was above the town and we couldn’t see the mountains.

As we left we had a departure committee of the sheep again. The shepherd just stands watching from the back of his van as the cars weave in and out.

The hairpin bends were just as spectacular on the way down. Then the roads and villages were very dramatic.

We then approached the town of Lourdes with many houses right on the street.

We found a good parking spot near the centre of Lourdes. We wanted to check out what it was all like considering how many people visit here.

We had a short walk to the Basilica of Notre Dame which is quite stunning. The painted walls and domes are very beautifully decorated.

Then round the corner is the grotto where the Virgin Mary appeared to teenage girl Bernadette Soubiros in 1858. There was a queue of people filing through the grotto saying their prayer and perhaps asking for a miracle. There was a large amount of people in wheelchairs to be wheeled through. There were groups led by banners on their way to the grotto.

On the way out there were many taps giving water from the holy spring. People were filling up large plastic bottles to take home with them.

After checking it all out we headed back up the street seeing the paraphernalia that you could purchase.

It’s quite an industry that has built itself up around the apparitions.

It was extremely busy so after refilling our lpg tank for 8 euro ( so cheap!) we headed up the mountain to Cauterets, an old spa town.

The hairpins going up had chalk messages on the road for the Tour de France.

It was amazingly busy in Cauterets with cars and vans everywhere. We couldn’t get into the aire there - or other parking areas specially for camping cars. The streets were also full of people - so much so the pavements were full and people were on the road.

We had had enough and decided to look elsewhere. I managed to book an aire at Luz-Saint-Saveur , another old spa town. We had to drive down the hill - and then up another one.

We then arrived at the aire and found that the barrier was up - not a good sign as anyone could get in for free. However there was 1 small space that was difficult for a big van to maneuver into - so we got it.

We settled in and went to look for a beer after all that drama.

First we found the Napoleon III Bridge where bungee jumpers were finishing up. It’s quite a spectacular bridge over a deep gorge. Napoleon III had commissioned it as he and his wife Eugenie spent time there when she came to the spa.

We then doubled back and found a very strange but lovely garden with trout fishing in the small pond, mini golf and a small bar.

We enjoyed that refreshing beer watching the fishermen (no fisherwomen!) pulling trout out of the pond - taking all of 10 seconds to get a bite. The mini golfers were tackling the tricky obstacle course with ball and putter.

Very strange - but very entertaining!

After all that we headed back to the van where I cooked up a sausage and lentils one pot casserole. We then watched some Olympic coverage and went to bed early!