LOURDES - GETTING AROUND
Lourdes is a pedestrian friendly city with several pedestrian only streets, it is very easy to get around the town center on foot. It really is worth walking and exploring the sites of the city.
By BicycleGetting around by bike is a great way to explore Lourdes and its surroundings. You will be able to find a few bike rental shops in and around the city.
The Voie Verte des Gaves is a beautiful route that offers fantastic cycling in and around Lourdes. It is an old railway line that has been fully paved allowing a safe cycle way as it follows an itinerary on a mountainside near a large Pyrenean river: the Gavede Pau. The route offers exceptional views as you ride through 11 Pyrenees villages that stretch across this journey.
Lourdes is a smaller-size city, so it`s walker-friendly, and there is no need for public transportation while exploring the sites of the city. If you choose to tour the city by bus, there is the Little Train Lourdes or Petit Train Touristique, but you may miss some of the sites and landmarks since the train takes one particular standard route. A tour of this city is about 45 minutes.
You can also get around the city center by the MonCitybus network that services the downtown area and the major tourist attractions.
The small bus station has services northwards to Pau and is a stop for buses running between Tarbes and Argeles-Gazost (about 8 daily), the gateway to the Pyrenean communities of Cauterets, Luz-St-Sauveur and Gavarnie.
Lourdes has a one-way street system around town, because many streets are pedestrian only, it can be confusing getting around town by car. There are many places to park on the outskirts of the city and walking is the easiest way to get around.
The network of roads connect Lourdes to the highway A64 as well as other large cities like Toulouse, Tarbes, and Pau. Route Nationale N21 that crosses the entire region also goes through Lourdes.
Free parking: Free parking is available on boulevard de la grotte, near the Boulevard du Lapacca. This is a short walk that will bring you directly to the entrance of the sanctuaries` domain. In the city, you can also park at Place Capdevielle. Please note that the parking lot can sometimes not be accessed because of special events.
Paid parking lots:The main and sheltered parking lot of Lourdes is located at Place Peyramale, under the Tourist Information Center. It is located nearby the castle and the parish church.
All around the Sanctuaries, you will also be able to park on the Avenue Peyramale or Avenue Paradis, or on the Boulevard Rémi Sempé. Please note that these are paid parkings on Sundays as well as on public holiday.