Lourdes is a small town situated in the Pyrenean foothills.
It is where we experienced our memorable ride at the Funiculaire du Pic du Jer in France.
One of the most exquisite views I’ve ever had in my life was certainly when my husband and I decided to take a scenic journey on a century-old funicular up a thousand meters above ground.
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Dress | Passed Down by my Friend Pearl
Necklace | c/o HAPPINESS BOUTIQUE
Bag | SALVATORE FERRAGAMO
Sunglasses | c/o SUNGLASSES SHOP
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Giving us a 360-degree panoramic view of the town of Lourdes, Tarbes, Pau, the Argelès Gazost Valley and the peaks of the Pyrenees, we were left breathless at the stunning view. We decided to go further up and hike the top of the mountain to have a romantic picnic across the sweeping scenes of the fabulous French countryside.
We couldn’t help but reflect on the inspiring happenings that day. We woke up bright and early to hear mass by the grotto of the Our Lady of Lourdes Sanctuary, which is the primary reason why we were in Lourdes, France. We had gone for a holy pilgrimage and stayed up late the night before to join the 9 p.m. candlelit procession, an evening tradition since 1872. Right after mass early in the morning, we decided to take the plunge of a lifetime by finally bathing in the miraculous, healing waters of Lourdes.
The reason why so many people take a pilgrimage here is for these holy waters, originally dug up by Saint Bernadette after witnessing the apparition of the Virgin Mary. The cold waters took me by surprise as I came without any expectations but it was a moving and sacred encounter, almost something you’d only want to share with God. Though cold, the waters were filled with conviction and certainty as if to revitalize and revive any person who bathes here.
As I made my way out of the baths, I could sense that an enduring essence of hope and faith was in the air. The sanctuary is available to anyone who wants to renew themselves physically and spiritually. It was amazing to see all the pilgrims and volunteers’ grace-filled presence here showing the allure of their tenacious and beautiful faith.
Pic du Jer is an incredible way to reflect on these kinds of spiritual experiences, where you’re so high up that it puts your mood in ethereal harmony with God and nature. This is the kind of divine peace and sublime happiness that we should cherish and always long for.
Sanctuaries Notre-Dame de Lourdes is a major Catholic pilgrimage site in France | Pic du Jer, Lourdes is a summit in the Hautes-Pyrénées | Funiculaire du Pic du Jer is its funicular railway linking the summit to the town of Lourdes | 59 Avenue Francis Lagardère, 65100 Lourdes, France