Fontenay Abbey, 21500 Montbard.
Tel. +33 (0) 3 80 92 15 00 - Fax +33 (0) 3 80 92 16 88
Founded in 1119 by Saint Bernard, Fontenay Abbey remains unspoiled. Its modern reputation is in keeping with the spiritual influence it enjoyed in days gone by. This masterpiece of Romanesque art rigorously adheres to the rules of the Cistercian Order. The Abbey of Fontenay has been listed as a "world heritage" site since 1981. 
Cluny Abbey - Tel. +33 (0) 3 85 59 12 79

Abbey of Beaulieu-en-Rouergue - Tel. +33 (0) 5 63 67 06 84 
Toulouse: Chapel des Carmélites - Tel. +33 (0) 5 61 21 27 60

Abbey of the Mont-Saint-Michel - Tel. +33 (0) 2 33 60 04 52
Abbey of Bec-Hellouin - Tel.+33 2 32 44 86 09
Abbey of Jumièges - Tel. +33 (0) 5 35 37 24 02

Amiens: Towers and Tresor of the Cathedral - Tel. +33 (0) 3 22 91 27 31

Abbey of Charroux - Tel.+33 (0) 5 49 87 62 43

Bourg-en-Bresse: Abbey of Brou - Tel. +33 (0) 4 74 22 26 55
Lyon: Tresor of the Cathedral Saint-Jean - Tel. +33 (0) 4 78 92 82 29

During the Middle Ages, millions of pilgrims traversed France en route to visit the shrine in northwest Spain known as Saint-Jacques de Compostelle, or Santiago de Compostela in Spanish. Today wayfarers can rekindle the medieval sense of adventure and faith by retracing the route of St-Jacques de Compostelle which links historic pilgrim sights, towns, and churches as it traverses picturesque countryside. The modern traveler of course benefits from newer modes of transportation, cozy hotels, and fine cuisine.
Regional tourist offices have maps and guidebooks that provide detail on several
itineraries that visitors can follow by car or bicycle or, if they choose, even on foot.

The 4 Pilgrimage Routes in France

The first one leaves from Paris and goes through Orléans, Tours, Poitiers, Saint Jean d’Angely (in the Charentes-Maritimes department), Bordeaux and Dax (in the Landes department).

The second pilgrimage route leaves from Vézelay (in Burgundy) and goes through Nevers, Limoges, Périgueux and Orthez (in the Pyrénées Atlantiques department).

The third route leaves from Le Puy en Velay (Central France) and goes through
Conques (*), Moissac (*), Aire sur l’Adour and Orthez (all located in the southwest Midi-Pyrénées region).

These first three roads meet at Gibraltar near Saint Palais (in the Pyrénées Mountains)  and, there, become one. The pilgrimage route goes then through Ostabat and Saint Jean Pied de Port, the road enters Spain by going over the pass of Roncevaux.

The fourth pilgrimage route leaves from Arles (in the Provence region) and goes
through Saint Guilhem le Désert, Montpellier, Castres, Toulouse, Oloron Sainte
Marie (all located in the southwest). The road enters Spain through the pass of
Somport. It then continuesthrough Jaca and joins, in Puente la Reina, the road
that came from Roncevaux and Pamplona.

(*) One of the best routes is the Via Podiensis, which connects Conques and Moissac passing through the towns of Cajarc, St-Cirq-Lapopie, Cahors, Montcuq, and Lauzerte. Conques is one of the most famous pilgrim centers in Midi-Pyrénées. Its great Romanesque church houses the relics of Saint Foy, among the most important in Europe, and features a striking tympanum above the west door. In Moissac, St-Pierre Abbey was founded in the 7th century and its church and cloisters were consecrated in the 11th century. The church’s south tympanum is a masterpiece of Romanesque sculpture, its statues expressively relating the Book of Revelation.

A million pilgrims come with diocesan or national pilgrimages and stay for a few days. Usually these are the local Christian communities that come with their bishop and priests : People from all walks of life and strata of society, the young and the sick...They set out together in order to find something new, because one does not go on pilgrimage to simply any place, but to a place where something has already happened and can happen again today to us, if we have the courage to seek the deepest truth in the heart of Lourdes.

On the 11th February 1858, an event took place which would totally change the
course of Lourdes’ history. It was on this date that Bernadette Soubirous, the
daughter of a poor family with four children and whose father was an impoverished miller, saw her first apparition of the Virgin Mary had indeed appeared to Bernadette Soubirous. Lourdes was now officially recognized as a place of pilgrimage.The Shrine is open all year - the Grotto, the Basilicas, the spring and the fountains. The processions begin and mass is celebrated in six languages from Easter to All Saints.

THE GROTTO
You may enter the grotto after the morning masses, about 10.30 am. From midnight to 5 am, the
entrance is Porte des Lacets. From Easter to all Saints a number of masses are celebrated at the Grotto in a variety of languages.

THE WATER TAPS
Situated on the left of the grotto. If you wish to take home some water or give it to friends, do not take an excessive amount.

THE BATHS
Opened from Easter to November1st.  Located at the right of the Grotto. 17 baths built in the rock in 1954. Free admission. Expect a long standing line, specially during pilgrimages. The water is very fresh. There are times when the baths are reserved for the very sick people.

TORCH LIGHT PROCESSION
Everyday from Easter to November 1st.  Meeting at 8.45 p.m. near the grotto. - 1 hour procession

TRANSPORT
Only in summer, taxis and bus rank at the entrance to St. Joseph gate.

SPECIFIC DETAILS :
Town with the second largest number of hotels in France - 275 classified hotels able to
accommodate close on 40,000 people.
5 million pilgrims each day year, from Easter to the feast of the Holy Rosary (early-October)

MAIN PILGRIMAGES:
-Diocesan From Easter to early-October
-Order of Malta 3-8 May
-Armed Forces 7-9 June
-National 11-16 August
-Gypsies End of August
-Gardians de Camargue (Every Two years)

FEAST:
- 11 February Anniversary of the first apparitions
- 18 February Saint Bernard
- 15 August Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady
- Early October Feast of the Holy Rosary
 

Paris-Lourdes 2-day-1-night package