Lourdes & Shrines of France (11 Days)
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Prices starting from
$2,509 Day by Day details
Enjoy 11 days in France. Start in Paris with a welcome dinner and guided sightseeing featuring all major sights and visits to Notre Dame Cathedral, the Basilica of Sacre Coeur, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Shrine—where the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Catherine Laboure in 1830—and St. Vincent de Paul Shrine. During an excursion to Lisieux, visit Les Buissonnets, family home of St. Therese, and the basilica. St. Therese was known as “The Little Flower” and for her charming autobiography, The Story of a Soul. Also visit St. Peter’s Cathedral and the Carmelite Convent where she lived as a nun. Return to Paris and the next morning board the high-speed “TGV” train to Lourdes, one of the world’s most famous places of pilgrimage. Visit the Grotto where the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Bernadette in 1858, Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine, and St. Bernadette’s birthplace and family home. You may wish to bathe in the healing waters, attend the “Blessing of the Sick,” or join the evening’s rosary and candlelight procession. Admire medieval Carcassonne on your way to Avignon, where a walking tour features the Palace of the Popes where the papacy resided in the 14th century. Stops are made in La Salette to visit the church and the Apparition Site; in Ars-sur-Formans to visit the St. John Vianney Shrine, his home, and the church where he preached; in Paray-le-Monial to visit the Chapel of the Apparitions and the Basilica of the Sacred heart; in Nevers to visit St. Gildard where St. Bernadette spent her life as a nun; and in Chartres to visit the magnificent cathedral. Return to Paris and enjoy a farewell dinner.
Day 1 
Depart Home
Depart Home Board your overnight transatlantic flight.
Day 2 Arrive Paris
Arrive Paris Transfer to your hotel. Balance of the day is at leisure. At 6 p.m. meet your Tour Director, then enjoy this evening’s welcome dinner with your traveling companions. (D)
Day 3 Paris
Paris Sightseeing with a Local Guide features Arc de Triomphe, Louvre, Champs-Elysées, and the Eiffel Tower. Visit the architectural wonders of NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL and the BASILICA OF SACRE COEUR on Montmartre. Afterwards, visit OUR LADY OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL SHRINE, where the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Catherine Laboure in 1830. Then visit the ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SHRINE, where you can see the reliquary of the saint who has inspired thousands of charities and volunteers. (BB)
Day 4 Paris
Paris Travel to Lisieux and visit LES BUISSONNETS, family home of St. Therese. Afterwards, visit the BASILICA OF ST. THERESE. St. Therese was known as “The Little Flower” and for her charming autobiography The Story of a Soul. Next, visit ST. PETER’S CATHEDRAL, where her family attended Mass, and the CARMELITE CONVENT, where she lived as a nun. Return to Paris. (BB)
Day 5 Lourdes
Lourdes Journey aboard the high-speed “TGV” TRAIN to Lourdes, one of the world’s most famous places of pilgrimage. Visit the GROTTO where the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Bernardette in 1858. Join this evening’s memorable rosary and candlelight procession. (BB,D)
Day 6 Lourdes
Lourdes Your walking tour with a Local Guide includes visits to OUR LADY OF LOURDES SHRINE and ST. BERNADETTE’S BIRTHPLACE and FAMILY HOME. Balance of the day is at leisure. You may wish to bathe in the healing waters or attend the “Blessing of the Sick.” Also, you may wish to join this evening’s rosary and candlelight procession. (BB)
Day 7 Avignon
Avignon First stop in Carcassonne, a medieval town and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then continue to Avignon. During your walking tour see the Palace of the Popes, where the papacy resided in the 14th century. (BB)
Day 8 Lyon
Lyon Journey to the mountaintop of OUR LADY OF LA SALETTE SHRINE, where the Virgin Mary appeared to two shepherd children in 1846. Visit the CHURCH, APARITION SITE, and miraculous SPRING. Depart for Lyon. (BB,D)
Day 9 Nevers
Nevers Visit the ST. JOHN VIANNEY SHRINE. See the saint’s incorrupt body, walk through his home, and explore the CHURCH where he preached and heard confessions. Depart for Paray-le-Monial, home to the CHAPEL OF THE APPARITIONS and where Jesus revealed his Sacred Heart to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. Also, visit the BASILICA OF THE SACRED HEART. Arrive in Nevers. (BB,D)
Day 10 Paris
Paris Visit ST. GILDARD in Nevers, where St. Bernadette spent her life as a nun. See the beautiful and miraculously incorrupt body of St. Bernadette. Continue to Chartres and visit the CATHEDRAL, one of Europe’s most celebrated shrines and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Travel to Paris and enjoy this evening’s farewell dinner. (BB,D)
Day 11 Return Home
Return Home Depart Paris. Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (BB)
Price per person starts at: US $2,509 based on double occupancy.
HIGHLIGHTS:
THIS TOUR INCLUDES:
NOT INCLUDED:
- PARIS: Welcome and farewell dinners; guided sightseeing, visit Notre Dame Cathedral, the Basilica of Sacre Coeur, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Shrine, and the St. Vincent de Paul Shrine
- LISIEUX: Visit Les Buissonnets, family home of St. Therese; the basilica; St. Peter’s Cathedral; and the Carmelite Convent
- PARIS–LOURDES: By high-speed “TGV” train
- LOURDES: Visit the grotto; guided sightseeing, visit the Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine and St. Bernadette’s birthplace and family home
- CARCASSONNE: Orientation
- AVIGNON: Orientation
- LA SALETTE: Visit the Our Lady of La Salette Shrine, the church, the Apparition site, and spring
- ARS-SUR-FORMANS: Visit the St. John Vianney Shrine, his home, and church
- PARAY-LE-MONIAL: Visit the Chapel of the Apparitions and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart
- NEVERS: Visit St. Gildard
- CHARTRES: Visit the cathedral
THIS TOUR INCLUDES:
- 9 nights accommodation in superior hotels (PARIS: Novotel Paris Tour Eiffel, LOURDES: Grand Hotel Moderne, AVIGNON: Mercure Pont d’Avignon, LYON: Mercure Grand Saxe Lafayette, NEVERS: Mercure Pont de Loire, PARIS: Pulman Porte de Sèvres)
- 14 meals: 9 buffet breakfasts (BB); 5 three-course dinners (D), including welcome and farewell dinners in Paris
- All activities and entrance fees per itinerary
- Hotel baggage handling and gratuity
- Transportation including private deluxe motorcoach with air-conditioning and extra leg room (where coach travel is used)
- Tour Director throughout your trip
NOT INCLUDED:
- International Airfare (please ask, we can help arrange air from your departure city!)
- Arrival and Departure Transfers
- Federal Inspection Fees for the U.S. Customs and Immigration
- International Air Transportation Tax, agricultural tax, any other taxes
- Security fee and airport taxes and fees
- Passports, visas and vaccinations
- Tips to your tour director, tour host, tour driver, local city guides
- Gratuities on ferries, trains and cruise ships
- Laundry, telephone, mini bar, alcohol, beverages and food not on the regular table d'hôte menu (these extra items will be billed to you before leaving the hotel or restaurant)
- Optional excursions
- Porterage at airports
- Travel protection/insurance
- Excess baggage fees
- All other items of a personal nature
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