A 10-Day Pilgrimage to France

Including Paris, Lisieux, Nevers, Paray le Monial, Ars, Lyon, Lourdes & more.

Day 1 - Monday  

USA / PARIS 

This afternoon we depart the USA for our transatlantic flight to Paris.  Meals are served on board. 

Day 2 - Tuesday 

PARIS / LISIEUX 

Upon our arrival in Paris we meet our Pilgrimage Tours ™tour director who will remain with us until the end of our tour.  We depart Charles de Gaulle Airport for the town of Lisieux, the home to St. Therese, the Carmelite nun known as “The Little Flower” and the Newest Doctor of the Church.  Here we will visit the site of the Lisieux family home, Les Buissonets, the Carmelite Convent Chapel where St. Therese and her parents are entombed.  We celebrate Mass at the Basilica of St. Therese.  Dinner and overnight in Lisieux. 

Day 3 - Wednesday 

LISIEUX / PARIS 

This morning we depart Lisieux for Paris.  Upon our arrival in the “City of Lights” we embark on a motor coach tour of the city to include the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower and the Champs-Elysees.  In the afternoon we go to Rue de Bac where we will celebrate Mass at the Shrine of the Miraculous Medal, also known as the Medal of the Immaculate Conception, where St. Catherine Laboure, a member of the Daughters of Charity, received her apparitions of Mary.  Finally, we will visit the Shrine of Vincent de Paul.  The remainder of our day is free.  Dinner and overnight in Paris. 

Day 4 - Thursday 

PARIS  

We begin our morning in Paris with a visit to the Montmartre District, the “Artists Quarter” of Paris and visit the Romanesque and Byzantine Sacre Coeur Basilica on top of Montmartre Hill.  The basilica with its many domes and arches contain wonderful sculptures, paintings and mosaics.  In the rear of the basilica you will see a bell tower that houses the “Savoyarde”, a bell weighing nearly 19 tons and one of the largest in the world.  Here we celebrate Mass.  Next we visit the cathedral of Notre-Dame, an architectural marvel, which stands on the banks of the Seine on the site of an early Christian basilica that had in turn been built on the site of a temple from the Roman era.  Here we will see the Gallery of the Kings, its Rose Window and its many chapels.  Dinner and overnight in Paris. 

Day 5 - Friday 

PARIS / NEVERS 

This morning we depart Paris for Nevers, to visit the museum and convent of St. Gildard, where Bernadette Soubirous of Lourdes spent the final 13 years of her life.  Here you will see the incorrupt body of Saint Bernadette kept in a glass reliquary.  Here we will celebrate Mass.  We enjoy some free time in Nevers prior to our arriving at our hotel for dinner and overnight in Nevers. 

Day 6 - Saturday 

NEVERS / PARAY le MONIAL / ARS  

This morning we depart Nevers and continue on to Paray le Monial, known as the City of the Eucharist, and visit the site of the Shrine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Margaret Mary Alacoque.  Here we will visit the Chapel of the Visitations and enjoy an audio-visual presentation of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.  We continue on to Ars, village of the Holy Cure and visit the house and shrine of St. John Vianney, the Patron Saint of Parish Priests, during this special “Year of the Priest” as declared by Pope Benedict.  Next we celebrate Mass in Ars.  The remainder of our afternoon is free to explore the village of Ars.  Dinner and overnight in Ars. 

Day 7 - Sunday 

ARS / LYON / LOURDES 

This morning we depart Ars for Lyon, where we enjoy an orientation tour of Lyon, followed by a visit to its beautiful cathedral.  Next we depart Lyon for Lourdes via the sky.  After our flight lands, we immediately drive to Lourdes.  Upon our arrival, we check into our hotel for dinner and overnight in Lourdes.  Upon our arrival in Lourdes, we visit the Rosary Basilica, where we celebrate Mass.  Dinner and overnight in Lourdes. 

Day 8 - Monday 

LOURDES  

This morning we celebrate Mass at the Poor Clares convent chapel in Lourdes.  Following Mass, we take a walking tour to see the sites of Lourdes where, in 1858, Mary appeared to young Bernadette Soubirous.  We visit the Grotto, the Spring, as well as the Basilica of St. Pius X, the Rosary Basilica and Bernadette’s home.  The afternoon is free before dinner.  Dinner is followed by the Candlelight Procession.  Overnight in Lourdes. 

Day 9 - Tuesday 

LOURDES / BARTRES / ST. SAVIN 

This morning we celebrate Mass in the Grotto.  Next we will explore the countryside known by St. Bernadette with a trip into the snowcapped Pyrenees Mountains.  First we visit Bartres, where Bernadette lived and then we will make a stop to visit the old Benedictine Abbey in the village of St. Savin.  The remainder of the day is free in Lourdes where we can participate in the Stations of the Cross, which is located outdoors in its beautiful natural surroundings.  Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Lourdes. 

Day 10 - Wednesday 

LOURDES / USA 

This morning we depart Lourdes for our return flights home.  Though our pilgrimage has come to an end, its blessings will last a lifetime and its graces are certain to draw us closer each day to the Lord. 

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