If you’re after a slightly more unique French camping holiday then why not take a pilgrimage to Lourdes. The tiny town, located on the foothills of the Pyrenees has attracted millions of pilgrims since 1858.

If you’re camping in France’s Pyrenean mountain range, then the famous village of Lourdes is well worth a day trip. The village has received a large number of pilgrims since 1858, when a 14-year old peasant girl admitted that she has seen a lady in the cave of Massabielle whilst out collecting firewood. The woman identified herself as “The Immaculate Conception” and similar appearances occurred another seventeen times that year.

The peasant girl, Bernadette Soubirous, was later canonized as a saint and many Catholics believe that her visions were of the Virgin Mary. It is possible to visit the Grotto de Massabielle, where it all started, as an excursion on your French camping holiday, and once inside you will be able to view La Source, which reputedly spouted on February 25, 1858 during the ninth apparition. The water in this spring is collected from several reservoirs where it can be drunk and, to-date, the Catholic Church has recorded 67 separate miracles which have occurred as a result of drinking this water.

During one of the apparitions, The Lady of Lourdes asked that a church be built at the spot of the sightings. This church was completed in 1867 and should definitely be visited. The overall basilica holds 20,000 people and is regarded as an important pilgrimage site. It is one of the largest churches in the world and holds a weekly international mass. If you want to attend one of these masses whilst camping in France then make sure you visit on a Wednesday and Sunday morning, when the English services take place.

Bernadette’s simple childhood home is now a popular place for pilgrims, with the adjoining museum depicting scenes from the life of the Saint. Her father’s home is located a few doors down and is open from March to October.

If you don’t mind visiting somewhere that’s slightly more commercialized, whilst on your camping holidays in France, then the Musee Grevin is definitely worth a visit. This attraction has been dubbed a ‘religious Madame Tussauds’, with scenes of Bernadette’s life and Leonardo Da Vinci’s last supper all created in waxwork.

The Chateau Fort de Lourdes is the perfect place in which to end your French camping holiday – taking the lift up to the terrace offers some beautiful views. The castle is an excellent example of medieval military architecture and, although the site has plenty of religious paraphernalia, from dolls dressed in nun’s habitats to countless statues of the Virgin, the military memorabilia and examples of French architecture means that it also acts as a retreat away from religious matters. Whether you’re spiritual or cynical you can’t fail to be impressed by taking an excursion to Lourdes when camping in France.

Eamon Hoolihan is the brand and advertising manager of Canvas Holidays, a leading European camping operator that provides the best selection of holidays camping in France holidays the internet can offer. With over 40 years of experience, Canvas offer superb camping holidays to France, Spain and a total of 9 European countries.

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