3 Best Sights in The Basque Country, Gascony, and Hautes-Pyrenees, France

The château on the hill above town is reached from the ticket office via escalator or 131 steps. Once a prison, the castle now contains the Musée Pyrénéen, a provincial museum devoted to the popular customs, arts, and history of the Pyrénées. There are splendid views over the rooftops of Lourdes and the sanctuary area.

The handsomely designed and appointed Musée Basque on the right bank of the Nive offers an ethnographic history of the Basque Country and culture.

Bernadette’s life story is chronicled through mementos and more at the museum that bears her name; information about the construction of the nearby sanctuaries is also provided.