Lourdes Travel Forum

Hi,

Would it be a mistake to go to Lourdes in January? I do expect wintry conditions, but are most of the hotels and restaurants open all year long? Do trains run to Biarritz and Carcassonne frequently enough to make a day trip reasonable/

Thanks for any help you can give me.

Cathy

Trying to predict the weather can be difficult because of local on the day variations.
This information should be used as a guide only.
Here is the average weather for Lourdes for this time of year.
Enjoy your holiday

January
High 48f / 9c
Low 32f / 0c

Only you can decide if it would be a mistake, but temperatures in January are not too bad. You simply have to pack appropriate clothing. Climate info here:

http://www.world66.com/europe/france/midi/pyrenees/lourdes/lib/climate

http://www.bahn.de/international/view/en/index.shtml

is the easiest site to find train timetables for the vast majority of european trains. www.sncf.com is the French railways site which will give you times and fares.

Lourdes to Carcassonne takes 3-4 hours: a long daytrip, but feasible if you catch (for example) the first train at 08:42 and the last at 22:36 (obviously you will need to check timetables nearer the date). Carcassonne station is just outside La Bastide walls, and there are buses to La Cite. You will have time to explore and enjoy.

Lourdes to Biarritz takes 2-3+ hours. The first train is at 08:57 (arriving 12:18), the last leaves at 22:53.

Hotels and restaus are open round the year in Lourdes. A mistake? You will see after the trip, but it is probably not! In Lourdes, there will probably not be snow, but the Pyrenees are not far, and if you like skiing. . . . .

Thanks to all of you. I might make an overnight visit to Carcassonne, which would allow me to see more of the city.

Thanks for the info about not having much snow. I did wonder, and also about whether there'd be tons of rain.

I don't know if you are going to Lourdes for the religious significance or not. If you are, then it should be pointed out that the Candle Light Procession, the Procession of the blessed Sacrament and other significant ser vices only happen between April and October which is known as the pilgrim season. I believe also that not all of the hotels and restaurants are open out of pilgrim season, though I am sure there will be plenty open to suit your needs.

Thanks for your reply, and sorry it has taken so long for me to respond. It is primarily for religious reasins that I'm going, and I was surprised that the candlelight procession is only held starting in April or so. However, I do hope to return some day, and another reason I'm considering going in January is because i loved snow covered mountains, so hopefully I can do some walking with mountains in view even if Lourdes itself might not have any snow. Thanks again.