Lourdes

[Lambreeta 125]

Hello my son is going to France and he wants to go to visit Lourdes anyone know any kid camps to stay at please tried to find one with not much luck

 

[Gaston aires]

Most of them will be religious group camps you can ask the church.
For my part we stayed on an aire in Lourdes for a couple of days just to take a look around. I found it incredibly tacky and didn’t enjoy it one bit.
I don’t want to start a religious debate here but each to their own point of view.
Phil

 

[meanders]

A few questions please?

How old is your son?
Will he be travelling alone, if so, using what type of transport?

Most Lourdes trips are organised by faith groups, mainly the Catholic church and include the transport from the UK.

I agree the town is really tacky. Once inside the religious quarter, and off peak, it's a peaceful place. Pleased I went once, but very unlikely to return.

 

[cliffanger]

Most of them will be religious group camps you can ask the church.
For my part we stayed on an aire in Lourdes for a couple of days just to take a look around. I found it incredibly tacky and didn’t enjoy it one bit.
I don’t want to start a religious debate here but each to their own point of view.
Phil

Phil, we loved it because of the tackiness, together with the unwavering belief of those that visited hoping for a cure.

It seemed such an incongruous place, with a massive basilica built on the donations of those who had been there over the years, walking down through the town where we bought Lourdes backscratchers, egg cups and a lighter, along unbelievably wide avenues where the sick walk (in the evenings when the tourists have left….) to the tiny grotto where it all began, with the rock shined to marble by millions of hands and photos of loved ones that couldn’t make it.

I don’t know of any camps there - we stayed in Navarrenx and drove there, but if the Aires at Fatima (a similar religious site in Portugal) are anything to go by, it will be good!

Sorry to hijack the thread Lambreeta 125!

 

[Stealaway]

We likened it to Disney for Catholics.
Massive hotels and hundreds of tacky gift shops.
We would be interested as to who blesses all that holy water you can buy by the gallons

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[Lenny HB]

It was tacky when we went in the late 70's, the Portuguese equivalent at Fatima is much nicer and well worth a visit.

 

[meanders]

As are Knock in Ireland, Walsingham in Norfolk, Buckfast in Devon and Lisieux in France.

However, Bath Spa, The Ganges, and Pamukkale and many other natural sites have also claimed miracles without the piety and devotion that comes with organised religion.

No doubt that many sick people find comfort and renewed energy from these places. Do any of us have the right to pooh pooh that?

 

[Just smiffy]

It didn’t work for me….

 

[Taran_Las]

There are a number of campsites in the Lourdes area. You'd have to check if they allow tents. Probably 2-3 km walk to the religious centre. The tacky retail bit isn't nice at all. The religious part (even for a non-religious person like me) makes one think about the power/hold faith has on people. As others have said, definitely a place to visit. Once.

 

[Gaston aires]

Phil, we loved it because of the tackiness, together with the unwavering belief of those that visited hoping for a cure.

It seemed such an incongruous place, with a massive basilica built on the donations of those who had been there over the years, walking down through the town where we bought Lourdes backscratchers, egg cups and a lighter, along unbelievably wide avenues where the sick walk (in the evenings when the tourists have left….) to the tiny grotto where it all began, with the rock shined to marble by millions of hands and photos of loved ones that couldn’t make it.

I don’t know of any camps there - we stayed in Navarrenx and drove there, but if the Aires at Fatima (a similar religious site in Portugal) are anything to go by, it will be good!

Sorry to hijack the thread Lambreeta 125!

There’s only so many phials of the blood of Christ, and locks of John the baptists hair surely. Still it gives hope to millions of people.
See you at the 3 fffs soon for a good ole pray off
Phil

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[cliffanger]

There’s only so many phials of the blood of Christ, and locks of John the baptists hair surely. Still it gives hope to millions of people.
See you at the 3 fffs soon for a good ole pray off
Phil

Seem both Phil - the blood was in Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber in Germany and the head (or a bit of it) Of John the Baptist in the Cathedral in Amiens!

I’d rather spend our time strummin at the 3FFFs - I’ll pack my tenor for you to have a go on!

 

[cyberyacht]

My perception of Lourdes when I was there in 1970 mirrors that of several on this thread. If you are down that way though, visit the Grottes de Bétharram, about 10 miles west. Absolutely brilliant

 

[chaser]

I know this might seem anti religious or something which I am not, but I'm afraid when we were there and there was a long queue to get in and out, just standing there watching I fully expected someone coming out to jump off a stretcher and start running about while someone filmed it.
But must say it was tacky but nothing like as bad as other places when you get to the actual place, we still have half a dozen unlit candles in the van from four years ago.
We parked on the aire and quite an easy walk in.

 

[VXman]

We stayed in a camping car park just a short drive out of Lourdes. Then parked on a side street 20 mins walk out of Lourdes and walked it in.

 

[Gaston aires]

Seem both Phil - the blood was in Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber in Germany and the head (or a bit of it) Of John the Baptist in the Cathedral in Amiens!

I’d rather spend our time strummin at the 3FFFs - I’ll pack my tenor for you to have a go on!

I’ve just bought a concert size off fleabay. I’ll bring it with me and Gill can bring her soprano. I’m standing at the lamppost on the corner of the street etc