As the French would say, Lourdes, c’est magnifique. Nestled in the southwestern Pyrénees, its status as a pilgrimage center was largely cemented by the sighting of the Virgin Mary at the The Grotto of Massabielle. The city abounds with religious activity, with opportunities to attend mass, say the Rosary as part of the daily Candlelight Procession, or visit holy sites like the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. The Cirque de Gavarnie offers opportunities to experience breathtaking mountain beauty, such as the tiered Gavarnie Falls.