ALL IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHT AND MAY NOT BE USED WITHOUT PERMISSION - LEGAL ACTION WILL BE TAKEN AGAINST ANYONE USING ANY IMAGE IN THAT MANNER
Lourdes
21st September 2008

We also visited Lourdes which, following claims of apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858, has developed into a major place of Christian pilgrimage. With these claims still widely disputed, critics argue that the Lourdes phenomenon is nothing more than a money spinner for the area, which thus has a strong vested interest in maintaining the flow of pilgrims. The overall impression is one of a tacky tourist location, with probably the worst public toilets ever experienced

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The fortified Château-Fort de Lourdes castle, built in the 11th century - 21 Sep 2008
The fortified Château-Fort de Lourdes castle, built in the 11th century - 21 Sep 2008
 Banners proclaim the visit of Pope Benedict XVI a week before ours - 21 Sep 2008
Banners proclaim the visit of Pope Benedict XVI a week before ours - 21 Sep 2008
 The Parish Church of St Pierre - 21 Sep 2008
The Parish Church of St Pierre - 21 Sep 2008
 War memorial, Place Peyramale - 21 Sep 2008
War memorial, Place Peyramale - 21 Sep 2008
La Rue des Petits-fossés - 21 Sep 2008
La Rue des Petits-fossés - 21 Sep 2008
 A banner commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the vision of Bernadette Soubirous - 21 Sep 2008
A banner commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the vision of Bernadette Soubirous - 21 Sep 2008
"Blanc du nil" ; you can have any colour as long as it's white! - 21 Sep 2008
 A very typical shop - 21 Sep 2008
A very typical shop - 21 Sep 2008
Avenue Peyramal, overlooking the river Gave - 21 Sep 2008
Avenue Peyramal, overlooking the river Gave - 21 Sep 2008
 Reflections in the river Gave - 21 Sep 2008
Reflections in the river Gave - 21 Sep 2008
 Nurses off to lunch - 21 Sep 2008
Nurses off to lunch - 21 Sep 2008
 Nurses off to lunch (and a fag!) - 21 Sep 2008
Nurses off to lunch (and a fag!) - 21 Sep 2008
Basilica of the Rosary, with the towers of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception rising above - 21 Sep 2008
Basilica of the Rosary, with the towers of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception rising above - 21 Sep 2008
 This statue outside the Basilica at Lourdes could be mistaken for an ancient cricket umpire at Lords - 21 Sep 2008
This statue outside the Basilica at Lourdes could be mistaken for an ancient cricket umpire at Lords - 21 Sep 2008
 A view looking back from Rosary Square towards the town - 21 Sep 2008
A view looking back from Rosary Square towards the town - 21 Sep 2008
 The sculpture over the entrance to the Basilica of the Rosary depicts the Virgin Mary giving the rosary to St Dominic - 21 Sep 2008
The sculpture over the entrance to the Basilica of the Rosary depicts the Virgin Mary giving the rosary to St Dominic - 21 Sep 2008
A side chapel mosaic in the Rosary Basilica depicting the Resurrection - 21 Sep 2008
A side chapel mosaic in the Rosary Basilica depicting the Resurrection - 21 Sep 2008
 The high basilica is fronted by a huge, glittering gold crown that sits on the dome of the crypt - 21 Sep 2008
The high basilica is fronted by a huge, glittering gold crown that sits on the dome of the crypt - 21 Sep 2008
 The view from the Basilica towards the Château-Fort - 21 Sep 2008
The view from the Basilica towards the Château-Fort - 21 Sep 2008
 The river Gave meanders past the banks of the Grotto and on downstream to Pau and Biarritz - 21 Sep 2008
The river Gave meanders past the banks of the Grotto and on downstream to Pau and Biarritz - 21 Sep 2008
Inside the Upper Basilica - 21 Sep 2008
Inside the Upper Basilica - 21 Sep 2008
 Looking out from the Upper Basilica over the town - 21 Sep 2008
Looking out from the Upper Basilica over the town - 21 Sep 2008
 The river Gave, pictured below the Upper Basilica - 21 Sep 2008
The river Gave, pictured below the Upper Basilica - 21 Sep 2008
 Le Monastère du Carmel, overlooking L'Eglise de Bernadette and Acceuil Notre-Dame - 21 Sep 2008
Le Monastère du Carmel, overlooking L'Eglise de Bernadette and Acceuil Notre-Dame - 21 Sep 2008
Statue of the Crucifixion and a view along Esplanade des Processions to the Basilica - 21 Sep 2008
Statue of the Crucifixion and a view along Esplanade des Processions to the Basilica - 21 Sep 2008
 River Gave from Pont St-Michel, Boulevard de la Grotte - 21 Sep 2008
River Gave from Pont St-Michel, Boulevard de la Grotte - 21 Sep 2008
 This bath-chair bears the legend
This bath-chair bears the legend "In Memory of Richard and Elisabeth Thompson, St Helens" - 21 Sep 2008
 A priest gathers his congregation/tourists/pilgrims together - 21 Sep 2008
A priest gathers his congregation/tourists/pilgrims together - 21 Sep 2008
Lunch for these nurses at one of the many Bar/Brasseries - 21 Sep 2008
Lunch for these nurses at one of the many Bar/Brasseries - 21 Sep 2008
 Flags everywhere for the 150th Anniversary celebrations - 21 Sep 2008
Flags everywhere for the 150th Anniversary celebrations - 21 Sep 2008
 The priest chants as he leads his flock through the town - 21 Sep 2008
The priest chants as he leads his flock through the town - 21 Sep 2008
ALL IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHT AND MAY NOT BE USED WITHOUT PERMISSION - LEGAL ACTION WILL BE TAKEN AGAINST ANYONE USING ANY IMAGE IN THAT MANNER
© 1998-2009 - All copyrights rest with the Author
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