FRANCE

Location - Western Europe; Capital - Paris; Population - 65 million; Currency - Euro MORE FRANCE

After a stopover in Paris it was off to Lourdes by train, a very religious but tacky place. However it's ideal as a base for the beautiful Pyrenees - October/November 2016.

A more recent version of the 10 Euro note

If you're stepping off the train this is the very welcome first site you'll see - Lourdes

The Chateau Fort set below the Pyrenean mountains - Lourdes

Crossing the River Pau to the Sanctuary Of Our Lady Of Lourdes - Lourdes

One of two St Bernadette movies playing in Lourdes, and the reason why Lourdes is teaming with pilgrims. In 1858 a 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous saw apparitions of a woman identifying herself as the Virgin Mary at the Massabielle Grotto. In 1862 the Catholic Church confirmed their authenticity and in 1933 she was beatified

Pilgrims and tourists queue at the Massabielle Grotto, touching the walls and getting a glimpse of the spring where Bernadette saw her visions - Lourdes

The Sanctuary Of Our Lady Of Lourdes is set above the grotto - Lourdes

Straight ahead, at ground level, is the Rosary Basilica. Go through the arches on the right and up the stairs to the Upper Basilica behind - Lourdes

Lourdes is one of Christianity's biggest pilgrimage sites where many sick and disabled from all over the world come to drink the (alleged) healing spring waters and hope for a miracle cure

Light some seriously big prayer candles in the Sanctuary grounds - Lourdes

Not content with building above ground, and with limited space, there's also the underground Basilica of St Pius X - Lourdes

The Chateau Fort stands above the Sanctuary - Lourdes

On one of the days at the sanctuary a march began with many women dressed in what looked like traditional costume and men in dapper suits - Lourdes

One of a huge number of souvenir shops selling religious memorabilia as well as plenty of tacky nonsense. I plumped for a water bottle moulded as the Virgin Mary.. - Lourdes

But you could go for a St Bernadette or Pope Francis 'medal' pressed from a 2 Euro coin - Lourdes

Lourdes has a great location nestled at the foothills of the Pyrenees, and to take it all in board the funicular up the Pic du Jer - Lourdes

The panorama is brilliant, taking in the Pyrenees, the mountains that form the border between France and Spain, and fill the whole of the Principality of Andorra - Lourdes

You can see the whole of Lourdes from here; middle right is the Chateau Fort while the Sanctuary spire is middle left, partially obscured by trees - Lourdes

The Chateau Fort is primarily a medieval castle built and extended over several centuries - Lourdes

The castle's imposing 14th century keep was rebuilt around 1406 - Lourdes

There's good views from the castle including the Pau River and a slightly obscured Sanctuary Of Our Lady Of Lourdes (top middle) - Lourdes

In the distance smoke settles on the Pyrenees, with the Chateau Fort's walls on the right - Lourdes

A couple of kms out of town is the Lac de Lourdes - Lourdes

It was very peaceful when I went, with just a couple of fishing boats on the calm waters - Lourdes

I took a bargain 2 Euro bus trip from Lourdes to La Mongie, where a cable car whisks passengers up to the Pic du Midi for a bird's eye view of the Pyrenees

The ski resort of La Mongie lies at 1,800m

Not an inspiring photo but for Tour de France lovers this is the Col du Tourmalet from La Mongie, one of the most famous climbs on the Tour

Beginning the climb to the 2,877m Pic du Midi

The trip is in two stages with this being the scarier second stage to the peak - Pic du Midi

Rising above the mountains - Pic du Midi

The cable car stops at the Pic du Midi

At the top is the Pic du Midi Observatory which houses the largest telescope in France - Pic du Midi

Despite it almost being November at 2,877m it was warm at the top, with people lying in deckchairs sunbathing! Pic du Midi

Most of the peaks measure between 2,300m and 3,100m in height - Pic du Midi

Waiting for the return cable car to La Mongie - Pic du Midi

The sun was intense at this altitude. Something tells me I need camera with a UV filter.. - Pic du Midi

On the way back to Lourdes we pass Bagneres-de-Bigorre

Another good hiking base near Lourdes is Cauterets

From Cauterets head to Pont d'Espagne at 1,425m altitude, and begin a 45-90min walk up to Lake Gaube at 1,725m. Or be lazy and take the chairlift..

It's a great site to see, especially if you've done the trek up from Pont d'Espagne - Lake Gaube

The morning sun rises to cast light on the green lake, with Pic du Vignemale behind - Lake Gaube

Pic du Vignemale is the highest mountain in the Pyrenees at 3,298m and straddles the French/Spanish border - Lake Gaube

In season there's a lakeside cafe, ideal for taking in such a picturesque area, but closed when I was there in November. You can also walk in the direction of Pic du Vignemale where there's a refuge cabin for climbers - Lake Gaube

My first view of the lake in the eraly morning, when there were only a couple of visitors. By midday I must have passed around 100 people walking up the trail - Lake Gaube

The trekking hub of Pont d'Espagne itself is worthy of exploration, surrounded by several waterfalls and rapids

Posing in front of a waterfall at Pont d'Espagne

Lourdes is the most practical base for Cauterets, Pic du Midi and Gavarnie but only 25mins further away is a far better option, Pau

The town has a small but attractive old town and a more lively, cafe-society feel to it - Pau

The Chateau de Pau is a castle where French King Henri IV was born in 1553 - Pau

Exiting the castle grounds. The town is built on a plateau, so either walk up the hill or take a funicular - Pau

The town's old quarter - Pau

Love the umbrellas! Pau

I had an hour to kill at Tarbes, enough time for the 5min walk to the landscaped gardens of Jardin Massey

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LINKS

www.eurostar.com - Eurostar train from London to Paris, Brussels and more

http://uk.france.fr - French tourist office

www.tourism-midi-pyrenees.co.uk - Pyrenees guide

www.voyages-sncf.com - French trains

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