In the Footsteps of St. Bernadette

"In the Footsteps of Bernadette" is a journey offered to pilgrims. It is an invitation to walk in the footsteps of Bernadette Soubirous to discover her message of faith.

The Birthplace of Bernadette (the Boly Mill after restoration)
Bernadette was born there on 7th January 1844. She lived there until 1854. Her parents, Louise and François, were the tenants of this mill. Bernadette spent a happy childhood in this "mill of happiness". The failure of François Soubirous obliged the family to leave this comfortable house in June 1854.

The Cachot - The inside of the Cachot.
A prison cell until 1824, this room which is the most squalid of the whole house was given free of charge to the Soubirous family. They stayed there from winter 1857 to the autumn of 1858. It was from there that Bernadette went to the Grotto to meet the Virgin Mary on eighteen occasions.
At the time of Bernadette : "the room was dark and unhealthy. The furniture consisted of two rough beds to the right of the entrance and a single small trunk for the linen."
Today after the renovations during the winter of 95-96, one can see in all its bleakness this room of 3.72m by 4.40m. which served at the same time as a kitchen, dining room, bedroom and a place of prayer for six people.

The Old Presbytery
At present, this is a public building, the Municipal Library. This is where Bernadette met the Parish Priest, Fr. Peyramale, to relay to the Church Authorities the message of the Blessed Virgin. We can still see the door that Bernadette used on her visits to Fr. Peyramale.

The Hospice of St. Bernadette
At the time of the Apparitions this was the Hospital-Hospice of "St. Roc" administered by the Sisters of Charity of Nevers. The Sisters also opened a school for the daughters of the poor. Bernadette was accepted there as a pupil between 1858 and 1866. It was in this Hospital-Hospice of "St. Roc" that Bernadette made her First Communion on 3rd June 1858. The present General Hospital is built on the site of the former Hospice

The Church of the Sacred Heart
Built between 1875 and 1903, it retains many reminders of the old Parish Church of St. Peter that was destroyed. On the right hand side of the transept, is the Baptismal Font where Bernadette was baptised on 9th January 1844, as well as the statues of the Blessed Virgin and St. John the Baptist.

The Village of Bartrès
This small village a few kilometres from Lourdes had an important role in the life of Bernadette. In November 1844 Bernadette was sent thereto be wet-nursed by Marie Lagües. 13 years later she returned to the home of Marie Lagües. This time as a farm hand. Her days were so full working on the farm, looking after the children of her foster-mother, looking after the lambs in the sheepfold, that Bernadette did not have the time to learn her catechism with the Parish Priest of Bartrès. In the evening, Marie Lagües would teach her the Catholic Faith. The pupil had difficulty in retaining her lessons to the annoyance of her former wet-nurse. Finally, on 21st January 1858 Bernadette returned to Lourdes to prepare for her First Communion.
The pilgrim who visits Bartrès today will find the sheepfold where Bernadette looked after the flock, the house of Marie Lagües (La Maison Burg) and the Parish Church.

The path of Bernadette
The pedestrian path from Bartres to Lourdes has been re-opened especially for the Year 2000 Jubilee. Up until now, groups of hikers went on this trail, with all its risks. Now there is a path specifically meant for pilgrims.
At 4 kilometers from Lourdes, the village of Bartres offers the possibility to reflect and pray in peace and quiet, far from the crowds.
After stopping at the sheep farm where Bernadette looked after the animals, take the path across from there that takes you 150 meters farther, to the Coudet Calvary. A little ways after that, follow the shallow Bedout path (rue du Bedout) which leads to the neighborhoods of Lourdes. On the little hill, take the private road, open to pilgrims. The old residents say that Bernadette’s brother used to come this way to visit his sister. The Saint Pauly path, the Lannedarre path and then the rue de Bretagne (the Brittany road) and the route de Pau (the Pau road) lead you to the staircase on the rue Docteur-Boissarie (the Dr. Boissarie road). A few hundred meters are all that is left and you are at the Grotto of the Apparitions.