The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes or, quite simply, Sanctuary of Lourdes, constitutes the largest French Catholic pilgrimage center since Bernadette Soubirous, saw a Lady declaring to be the Immaculate Conception, four years after the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception by Pope Pius IX, it is Our Lady of Lourdes.

The apparitions of Lourdes began on February 11, 1858 in the small cave of Massabielle, not far from the village, along the Gave de Pau and lasted several months. In total, Bernadette saw the Virgin eighteen times. After investigation, the bishop of Tarbes, Bertrand-Sévère Laurence, recognizes the apparitions on January 18, 1862 in the name of the Catholic Church.

The sanctuary includes the grotto, place of the apparitions, the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, the Basilica of the Rosary, the surroundings of the Gave, an esplanade, the Basilica of Saint-Pius-X, a meadow, a reception for the sick, the fountains, swimming pools, the Sainte-Bernadette church, a monumental Way of the Cross and a number of service buildings. The main elements of this 52-hectare complex (and in particular the three basilicas and the Esplanade du Rosaire) are located on the left bank of the Gave de Pau which makes a loop at the level of the Saint-Michel bridge, but the area extends also largely on the right bank downstream of this bridge.