What Draws People to Lourdes, France

Posted on Tuesday, November 08, 2011

Lourdes is a small town located in the Pyrenees Mountains in southwestern France. It is well known for the Marian apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes, which occurred in 1858. A Marian apparition is when the Blessed Virgin Mary supposedly appears supernaturally to one or more people. The apparition is usually named for the town in which the appearances take place.

On February 11th, 1858, a local 14-year-old girl by the name of Bernadette Soubirous was collecting firewood with her sister and friend, and was trying to cross a stream in front of a grotto without getting wet. She was leaning down to take off her shoes when she heard the sound of rushing wind, but everything was still. When she stood, she saw a bright light, and then a white figure. She described it as a small young lady. This was the first reported of 18 visions she had.

During the time between the first and 18th vision, locals thought her to be insane, but later her claims were proven to be true. A spring formed only days after Bernadette dug in a muddy spot in the ground near the grotto. As requested by Our Lady Of Lourdes, a church was later built on site. Later, after Bernadette’s death, she was canonized and declared a saint. Her incorrupt body can be viewed in the Church of St. Gildard in Nevers, France.

The spring that formed in 1858 during the Marian apparition occurrences is said to have miraculous healing properties, and is what draws tourists on pilgrimage to Lourdes in present day. In the 150 years since Bernadette dug up the spring, over 67 inexplicable cured illnesses have been reported. Since the late 1850’s, people have flocked from all over the world to drink and bathe in the spring water, the majority of them being pilgrims. Until 1880, there were only two bathing pools that were filled by manual pumps. Before the priests that ran the Church and bathing house fully knew of the amount of water the sping could put out, the water of the pools was changed only twice daily. The bath houses that stand currently were built in 1955, and were upgraded in 1972 and 1980. It holds 17 separate bathing cubicles, with 11 for women and 6 for men. An estimation of 350,000 people use the tubs each year. Traditionally, visitors of the spring would draw jugs of water to take home to their loved ones who were unable to travel to Lourdes themselves, but in the summer of 2007, this was banned as part of a new anti-terrorism regulation.

I myself would love to visit Lourdes to learn more about the Marian apparitions, St. Bernadette, and perhaps even visit the Church of St. Gildard to view her body. I imagine that it would be quite humbling to be in such a place that something so miraculous took place at.

European Tours

Posted on Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Europe is a place of wonders, an intriguing past and timeless elegance.  Here, watch history come live as you explore the destinations of your choice.  Saver new foods and discover new passions.  Shop for exquisite fashion and wander bustling markets for the best bargains.  Let some of the most renowned theatres in the world excite and entertain you.  Discover lands where fairytale castles exist and real kings, queens and princess rule.  Europe is charming and positively magical, alluring, enchanting, enthralling and it's where Harry Potter, Shakespeare , Sherlock Holmes and "Angles & Demons" come to life.

Europe is defined in its thriving cities, breathtaking countryside, quaint pubs and the world's finest museums.  A day in Europe could be a day of sightseeing, romance or just a long afternoon sitting at a sidewalk cafe.

We welcome you to research your next European tour by destination, or by clicking on our preferred travel partners.

Here is our network of Europe travel destination sites:
Atlas Cruises & Tours| Christmas Market Tours | England Tours | Escorted Family Vacations | France Tours | Greece Tours| Ireland Tours | Italy Tours | Luxury Tour |Oberammergau | River Cruise | Russia Tours | Scandinavia Tours | Spain Tours

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Globus River Cruises 2009

Posted on Thursday, January 08, 2009

Globus offers river and small ship cruising with Avalon Waterways. More relaxing and enriching than ever! Avalon Waterways, the premier provider of river & small-ship cruises to enchanting world destinations, announces a spectacular new cruise: "Windmills, Vineyards & Paris," a 14 day cruise from Amsterdam to Paris. You can immerse yourself in the historic culture and romance of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. Aboard this adventure, you will be in awe of the views while surrounded by the spectacular castles and vineyards of France's celebrated wine regions. Globus' award winning cruises in Europe, China, Egypt and the Galapagos are the most engaging way for you to enjoy the cultures of the world.  New ships for 2009 are the Avalon Creativity and Avalon Affinity, with two more ships coming in 2010.

If you are looking for a smart investment, Globus gives you a world of return. A river cruise with Globus is a fantastic value, since the price includes accommodations, local sightseeing, many meals, and complimentary wine with dinner, greatly minimizing both on-shore and onboard costs. It’s clear that a journey with Globus is an investment in yourself, one amazing experience at a time.

For a limited time, Globus is offering the following promotion:

Save $400 off per stateroom on the air-inclusive price of any 2009 Europe river cruise.*

Save $200 off per stateroom on the land/cruise only price of any 2009 Europe river cruise.*

Some restrictions apply, visit our Globus web site for more details.

River cruising is one of the fastest growing segments of the travel industry. For more information, visit our web site dedicated to river cruises.