Lourdes history

Foundation and Legends

The territory of modern **Lourdes** has been inhabited since prehistoric times, as evidenced by archaeological finds (tools, ceramics). In the Roman era, a fortified oppidum was located here, but the name of the city itself is linked to a beautiful medieval legend from the time of Charlemagne.

According to tradition, a Saracen leader named Mirat, who held the local fortress, surrendered not to the king, but to the Black Virgin of Le Puy-en-Velay. After accepting baptism, he took the name Lorus, which subsequently transformed into the name of the city — **Lourdes**.

Key Factors of Development

The city's development was dictated by its exceptional strategic position in the foothills of the Pyrenees. Lourdes was formed not as a trading metropolis, but as a military and administrative hub.

• Geography: The city is located at the entrance to the seven valleys of the Lavedan, making it a natural guardian of the mountain passes.
• Lourdes Fortress: The famous castle (Château fort), rising on a rock in the middle of the city, served for centuries as the residence of the Counts of Bigorre and guaranteed the settlement's safety.
• Political Power: Possession of the castle meant control over the entire region, so the city often changed hands between French and English feudal lords, especially during the Hundred Years' War.

Early Appearance and Economy

Until the mid-19th century, Lourdes remained a modest provincial town, the life of which revolved around the garrison and agriculture.

• Economy: The basis of prosperity was markets and fairs, where farmers from mountain villages gathered to exchange livestock and products. Stone (slate and granite) was also quarried in the region.
• Culture: It was a typical fortified town of Gascony, where military traditions and the peasant way of life mixed.
• Transit: Lourdes served as an important transit point for travelers heading to the thermal springs in Barèges and Cauterets, even before it became a global pilgrimage center.

Key Historical Milestones

• 778 — According to legend, the Saracen leader Mirat surrenders the fortress to Charlemagne and accepts baptism under the name Lorus, giving the city its name.
• 1360 — Under the Treaty of Brétigny, Lourdes passes under English control and remains their stronghold during the Hundred Years' War.
• 1407 — French troops regain control of the castle and the city after a difficult 18-month siege.
• Late 17th Century — By order of Louis XIV, the medieval castle loses its military significance and is transformed into a royal prison.
• 1858 — From February 11 to July 16, young Bernadette Soubirous testifies to eighteen apparitions of the Virgin Mary in the Grotto of Massabielle.
• 1862 — The Bishop of Tarbes officially recognizes the authenticity of the apparitions, marking the beginning of official pilgrimages.
• 1866 — The opening of the railway station connects Lourdes with major French cities, sharply increasing the influx of pilgrims.
• 1871 — The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, built directly above the Grotto of the Apparitions, is consecrated.
• 1901 — Construction of the Rosary Basilica in Neo-Byzantine style is completed to accommodate the growing number of believers.
• 1933 — Bernadette Soubirous is canonized as a saint by Pope Pius XI.
• 1958 — For the centenary of the apparitions, the giant underground Basilica of St. Pius X, accommodating 25,000 people, is consecrated.
• 1983 — John Paul II becomes the first Pope to visit the sanctuary on an official visit.

Stages of City Development and Transformation

The history of **Lourdes** is an example of how a small settlement can radically change its status and appearance under the influence of a single event. Below are the key stages that defined the modern look and economy of the city.

• Medieval Fortification and Castle

  Until the 19th century, the urban core was the impregnable castle on the rock. This defined the initial layout of the "upper city" with narrow streets where the garrison and artisans lived. The castle provided administrative status and protection, making Lourdes an important military outpost of the Bigorre region.

• Events of 1858: Change of Development Vector

  The apparitions of the Virgin Mary to Bernadette Soubirous became a turning point, completely changing the city's identity. From a quiet agrarian-military town, Lourdes began to transform into a spiritual center of global scale. This event launched the process of reorienting the entire local economy to serve pilgrims.

• Arrival of the Railway (1866)

  Connection to the railway network became the main economic driver of the 19th century. The ability to quickly and cheaply reach the foothills of the Pyrenees turned local pilgrimage into a mass movement, requiring immediate expansion of urban infrastructure.

• Urban Zoning: The Sanctuary and the City

  In the second half of the 19th century, a unique bipolar city structure formed. Below, by the Gave de Pau river, the "Sacred City" (Domaine) grew with basilicas and esplanades, separated from the secular part. This division into religious and commercial zones persists to this day.

• "Belle Époque" Hotel Boom

  At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, Lourdes experienced a construction fever. Hundreds of hotels, boarding houses, and souvenir shops appeared in the city. As a result, Lourdes took second place in France for the number of hotel beds after Paris, which was a unique phenomenon for a city with such a small population.

• Mid-20th Century Modernization (Basilica of Pius X)

  By the 100th anniversary of the apparitions (1958), the city faced the need to host tens of thousands of people simultaneously. The construction of the giant underground basilica became a masterpiece of engineering and an example of how modern architecture can be integrated into a historical landscape without violating its visual integrity.

• Creating an Inclusive Urban Environment

  In recent decades, Lourdes has become a world leader in accessible environments. Investments in infrastructure for people with limited mobility, specialized transport, and medical equipment in hotels have made the city a benchmark for inclusive tourism.

Architectural Appearance and Urban Planning

The urban structure of **Lourdes** is unique in its duality. The city is clearly divided into two zones: the historical "Upper Town" (Ville Haute), formed around the castle, and the "Lower Town" (Sanctuary), which arose in the floodplain of the Gave de Pau river after the events of 1858. The city's architecture represents a journey through time: from stern medieval fortification to bold solutions of 20th-century modernism.

Middle Ages: Military Architecture

The oldest layer of development belongs to the era when Lourdes was a strategic military outpost.

• Style: Defensive architecture (military architecture).
• Iconic Object: **Lourdes Castle (Château fort)**. This fortress, rising on a rock, combines elements of Romanesque style and Gothic. Massive walls, a 14th-century keep, and drawbridges demonstrate stern functionality designed to withstand long sieges. An old grid of narrow winding streets has been preserved around the castle.

Second Half of the 19th Century: Historicism and Eclecticism

The era of pilgrimage brought monumental styles to Lourdes, seeking to emphasize the grandeur of religious events. Architects turned to the heritage of the past, reinterpreting it on new scales.

• Neo-Gothic: The brightest example is the **Basilica of the Immaculate Conception** (Upper Basilica), consecrated in 1871. The soaring spire, pointed arches, and stained glass windows symbolize spiritual aspiration. The building dominates the sanctuary complex, visually echoing the ancient castle.
• Neo-Byzantine Style: **Rosary Basilica** (Lower Basilica), completed in 1889. It is distinguished by a squat dome, rich mosaic decoration, and wide esplanades intended for processions. This style was chosen to create a contrast with the verticality of the Upper Basilica.
• Civil Eclecticism ("Belle Époque"): Boulevard de la Grotte and adjacent streets are built up with grand hotels from the late 19th — early 20th century. The buildings are characterized by rich facade decor, mansard roofs, and wrought-iron balconies, reminiscent of the Haussmann architecture of Paris.

20th Century: Modernism and Brutalism

With the growth in the number of pilgrims, a need arose for huge covered spaces, which led to the use of modern materials, primarily reinforced concrete.

• International Style / Structural Expressionism: **Basilica of St. Pius X** (1958). This is a unique underground structure made of prestressed concrete. The architects dispensed with columns, creating a giant hall in the shape of an inverted ship, accommodating 25,000 people. The building is practically invisible from the outside, preserving the landscape, but inside it amazes with the boldness of engineering thought.
• Modern Church Architecture: **Church of St. Bernadette** (1988). Located on the opposite bank of the river, it is executed in a concise modern style using modular structures and natural lighting, harmoniously blending into the surrounding park zone.

Notable Figures of Lourdes

The history of Lourdes is an intertwining of the fates of legendary warriors, ordinary residents, and great rulers. Below are key figures who played a decisive role in the formation of the city and its worldwide fame.

• Mirat (Lorus) (8th century)
  Saracen leader and legendary founder
  A key figure in the history of the city's name origin. According to tradition, during the siege of the fortress by Charlemagne's troops, Mirat agreed to surrender not to the king, but to the "Queen of Heaven" (the Black Madonna). After baptism, he took the name Lorus, which subsequently transformed into the toponym Lourdes.
• Gaston III de Foix (Phoebus) (1331–1391)
  Count of Foix and Viscount of Béarn
  A famous medieval ruler and military commander. He strengthened Lourdes Castle, turning it into an impregnable citadel that controlled strategic routes in the Pyrenees during the Hundred Years' War. His motto "Toquey si gauses" ("Touch if you dare") became a symbol of the fortress's impregnability.
• Saint Bernadette Soubirous (1844–1879)
  Visionary, Saint of the Catholic Church
  The daughter of a poor miller who witnessed 18 apparitions of the Virgin Mary in the Grotto of Massabielle in 1858. Her sincerity and resilience in the face of interrogations by secular and ecclesiastical authorities marked the beginning of Lourdes' transformation into one of the main pilgrimage centers of the Christian world.
• Abbé Dominique Peyramale (1811–1877)
  Curé (Parish Priest) of Lourdes
  A stern and authoritative priest who was initially skeptical of Bernadette's accounts. However, convinced of the truth of the apparitions, he became her main defender. It was Peyramale who organized the construction of the first shrine at the site of the grotto, fulfilling the "instruction" of the Virgin Mary.
• Napoleon III (1808–1873)
  Emperor of France
  Played an important political role in the fate of the sanctuary. In 1858, when local authorities closed access to the grotto with a fence, fearing unrest, the emperor (at the request of Empress Eugénie) sent a telegram ordering the grotto to be opened to believers, thereby legalizing the nascent pilgrimage.
• Franz Werfel (1890–1945)
  Austrian writer and playwright
  In 1940, hiding in Lourdes from Nazi persecution, he vowed to write a book about Bernadette if he managed to escape. His novel "The Song of Bernadette" became a global bestseller, and the subsequent Hollywood adaptation (1943) brought the story of Lourdes global popularity beyond Europe.