Lourdes, Lisieux and Mont-Saint-Michel Pilgrimage, 13 Days

Length: Thirteen days
Walking: Moderate
Season: April to October
Status: First departures in 2027

The grace we ask on this way

To visit the great shrines of France on one road, and to entrust to Our Lady the intentions carried from home.

Paris
Lisieux
Mont-Saint-Michel
Chartres
Nevers
Paray-le-Monial
Ars
Le Puy-en-Velay
Conques
Rocamadour
Lourdes

This way visits the great shrines of France in thirteen days, from Notre-Dame de Paris to the grotto of Lourdes. It suits a first pilgrimage in France, or pilgrims who want to see in one trip what the other ways cover one at a time.

In Paris, you begin at Notre-Dame and at the chapel of the rue du Bac, where Our Lady appeared to Catherine Labouré in 1830 and where her body rests. On Montmartre, adoration has not ceased since 1885. Then comes Lisieux, where Thérèse lived her little way, and Mont-Saint-Michel.

Chartres keeps the Veil of the Virgin. At Nevers, you pray beside Saint Bernadette, whose body rests in the convent where she spent her last years. At Paray-le-Monial, Christ showed his Heart to Margaret Mary Alacoque. At Ars, where the Curé heard confessions up to sixteen hours a day, the priest of the group hears confessions too.

The road then turns south, to the Black Virgin of Le Puy, to Conques, where the pilgrims to Compostela are blessed each evening at Sainte-Foy, and to the Black Virgin of Rocamadour, where pilgrims once climbed the great stairway on their knees. It ends at Lourdes, with the torchlight procession and a last Mass near the grotto of Massabielle.

Daily prayer

This way links the great shrines of France on a single road. Each day has its own grace to ask for, and the intentions you bring are entrusted to Our Lady at the grotto of Massabielle.

This landWithin a few days’ drive of one another, France has Paray-le-Monial and the Sacred Heart, the Miraculous Medal, Thérèse’s Lisieux and the grotto of Lourdes, which draws pilgrims from every country.

Each day

The priest names the grace of the day in the morning, and the group gives thanks for it in the evening. In between come Mass at the shrine, the rosary on the road, and time for personal prayer.

The rites of this way

The blessing of pilgrims in Notre-Dame
An hour of adoration at Montmartre
Confession at Ars
The consecration to the Sacred Heart at Paray-le-Monial
The evening blessing of pilgrims at Conques
The torchlight procession at Lourdes

Before you leave

Before you leave, write down the intentions you will carry, your own and those entrusted to you. Read the first two chapters of Saint Luke.

The fruit of the way

The great shrines seen in person, and intentions left at Lourdes.

Who it is forA first pilgrimage in France, for those who wish to pray at the great shrines in one trip.

Day by day

Thirteen days from Notre-Dame de Paris to Lourdes.

Day I
BenedictioSetting out blessed
Paris
Notre-Dame de Paris
The blessing of pilgrims and the opening Mass in Notre-Dame
Night in Paris
Day II
AdoratioChrist present in the Host
Paris
The chapel of the rue du Bac, then the basilica of the Sacré-Cœur on Montmartre
An hour of adoration at Montmartre, where it has not ceased since 1885
Night in Paris
Day III
FiduciaTrust
Paris to Lisieux
The train to Lisieux, under two hours; the Carmel, the basilica and Les Buissonnets
Mass in the basilica of Lisieux, and silence in the chapel of the Carmel
Night in Lisieux
Day IV
MilitiaThe combat of the soul
Lisieux to Mont-Saint-Michel
The road to the bay, about two and a half hours; the abbey, and an evening on the Mount after the day visitors leave
Vespers in the abbey church, and the prayer to Saint Michael
Night on the Mount
Day V
VelumThe veil of the Mother
Mont-Saint-Michel to Chartres
The road east, about three hours; the cathedral and the Veil of the Virgin
Mass in the cathedral of Chartres, and the rosary on the road
Night in Chartres
Day VI
HumilitasHumility
Chartres to Nevers
The road to the Loire, about three hours; Saint Bernadette, at the convent of Saint-Gildard
Mass before the body of Saint Bernadette
Night in Nevers
Day VII
Cor IesuThe Heart of Jesus
Nevers to Paray-le-Monial
The chapel of the apparitions of the Sacred Heart
The consecration to the Sacred Heart at Paray-le-Monial
Night in Paray-le-Monial
Day VIII
MisericordiaMercy
Paray-le-Monial to Ars
The church of the Curé of Ars, his house and his confessional
Confession, and Mass in the church of the holy Curé
Night in Ars
Day IX
PeregrinatioThe road of the pilgrims
Ars to Le Puy-en-Velay
The road to the Velay, about two and a half hours; the Black Virgin of Le Puy, above the town on its volcanic rock
Vespers before the Black Virgin of Le Puy
Night in Le Puy
Day X
FidesFaith
Le Puy-en-Velay to Conques
The road south across the Aubrac, about three hours; the abbey church of Sainte-Foy, and its treasury if it has reopened
The pilgrims’ Mass at seven in Le Puy, then the evening blessing of pilgrims at Sainte-Foy
Night in Conques
Day XI
AscensioThe ascent
Conques to Rocamadour
The road by Figeac, about an hour and a half; the great stairway and the chapel of Our Lady
The great stairway of Rocamadour, climbed in prayer
Night in Rocamadour
Day XII
ImmaculataThe Immaculate Conception
Rocamadour to Lourdes
The road to the Pyrenees, about three and a half hours; the grotto of Massabielle, and Bernadette’s town
Mass at the grotto if the Sanctuary allows, and the torchlight procession
Night in Lourdes
Day XIII
GratiasThanksgiving
Lourdes
A last hour at the grotto, then the direct high-speed train to Paris or, as an option, the flight from Tarbes-Lourdes to Paris-Orly
The last Mass, with the intentions brought from home
Last day

Masses, private openings and some visits are requested for each group and remain subject to the consent of rectors, curators and communities. The torchlight procession at Lourdes takes place from April to October.

First departures in 2027. Tell us the season you prefer, and we will propose departure dates once reservations open.

The holy places of this way: Paris, Lisieux, Mont-Saint-Michel, Chartres, Nevers, Paray-le-Monial, Ars, Le Puy-en-Velay, Conques, Rocamadour, Lourdes.

Further reading: Lisieux: A Pilgrim’s Guide to the Town of Saint Thérèse; Mont-Saint-Michel: A Pilgrim’s Guide to the Archangel’s Mount; Chartres: A Pilgrim’s Guide to the Cathedral of Our Lady; Paray-le-Monial: A Pilgrim’s Guide to the Sacred Heart.

The saints of this way: Saint Faith, Saint Michael the Archangel, Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, Saint John Mary Vianney, Saint Catherine Labouré, Saint Bernadette Soubirous, Saint Thérèse of Lisieux.

This way can also be made at a gentle pace, with two or three days in Paris before or after.

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