Lourdes is presently one of the oldest places of pilgrimage and its geographical position makes it an ideal starting-point for excursions to the mountains since Lourdes is considered as the gateway of the Pyrenees.

Some 5 million visitors now come every year from 130 countries and there is sufficient accommodation for them all - such is the actual size of the town. Lourdes now has the second greatest number of hotels in France with 270 establishments.