Page 463 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - France

Phoebus. It was entirely
restored 400 years later. THE MIRACLE OF
Marguerite d’Angoulême, sis- LOURDES
ter of the King of France, lived In 1858 young Bernadette
here in the late 16th century, Soubirous experienced 18
and transformed the town visions of the Virgin at the
into a centre for the arts and Grotte Massabielle near
free thinking. The châ teau’s the town. She was guided
16th-century Gobelin tapes- to a spring with miraculous
tries, woven by Flemish crafts- healing powers, endorsed
men in Paris, are stunning. by the Church in the 1860s.
Outside, the boulevard des Many people have since
Pyrénées has glorious views claimed cures, and shrines,
of some of the highest peaks, churches and hospices
often snow-capped year (and a dynamic tourism
round. The Musée des Beaux- industry) have grown up
Arts has a splendid Degas, the around the spring.
Cotton Exchange, New Orleans,
and two works by Rubens.
The Maison Carrée in Nay, 12 13
18 km (11 miles) towards
Lourdes, exhibits the former Tarbes Lourdes
Musée Béarnais’s collection of ! C6–7 ⌂ Hautes-Pyrénées ! C7 ⌂ Hautes-Pyrénées
artifacts, which traces the k £ @ n 3 cours Gambetta; k £ @ n Pl Peyramale;
history, traditions and culture www.tarbes-tourisme.fr www.lourdes-info
of the Béarn. tourisme.com
Known as Turba in Roman
Château de Pau times, Tarbes is the capital Lourdes, one of the great
"'= ⌂ Rue du Château of the Bigorre region and shrines of Europe, owes its
# Hours vary, check website hosts a major agri cultural fair fame to visions of the Virgin
¢ 1 Jan, 1 May, 25 Dec each year. Agriculture is such experienced by 14-year-old
∑ chateau-pau.fr a part of Tarbes that the Bernadette Soubirous in 1858.
town is known locally as Six million people annually
Musée des Beaux-Arts “market town”. visit Grotte Massa bielle,
" ⌂ Rue Mathieu Lalanne The Jardin Massey, in the where the visions occurred,
§ 05 59 27 33 02 # Hours middle of town, was designed and rue des Petits-Fossés
vary, call ahead ¢ Some at the turn of the 19th century where Bernadette lived, in
public hols and is one of the loveliest search of a miracle cure. The
parks in the south west of Musée du Petit Lourdes gives
France. It features a variety information about Ber nadette.
of many rare plants such as Visit the Grottes de
the North American sassafras, Béthar ram for underground
as well as a 14th-century rides by boat and train, or the
cloister with finely carved Musée Pyrénéen, to find out
capitals and a wonderful about the pioneers who
domed glass greenhouse. opened up these ranges.
Within the glorious gardens
is the Musée Massey, which Musée du Petit Lourdes
is home to a unique collection " ⌂ 68 avenue Peyramale
of items relating to the history # Mid-Apr–mid-Oct: 10am–
of French and international 7pm daily; mid-Oct–mid-Apr:
hussars. It also contains a 10am–5pm Mon, 10am–6pm
well-curated collection of Tue–Sun ¢1 Jan, 1 & 11 Nov,
fine paintings and sculpture. 25 Dec ∑ chateaufort-
lourdes.fr
Musée Massey
"= ⌂ Jardin Massey Grottes de Bétharram
# Mid-Apr–mid-Oct: 10am– " ⌂ St-Pé-de-Bigorre
12:30pm & 1:30–7pm Wed– # Feb–late Mar: Mon–Thu at
Mon; mid-Oct–mid-Apr: 2:30 & 4pm, Fri 2:30pm; late
10am–noon & 2–5pm Mar–Oct: 9am–noon & 1:30–
¢ 1 Jan, 1 May, 25 Dec 5:30pm daily (to 6pm early Jul–
∑ musee-massey.com late Aug) ∑ betharram.com
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