Lourdes is a definite tourist destination, in particular one with an extremely heavy religious significance. Visitors might also find plenty of other opportunities – ranging from sightseeing circuits to nature exploration, sports activities to fun parks, spa treatments to golfing. All these are possible in and around Lourdes, whereas shopping is scarce and less rewarding. However, there are certain types of traditional items for sale which yield the specificity of what one might call the shopping in Lourdes.

Boulevard de la Grotte is the main thoroughfare along which a specific kind of clothing is sold. We speak about the Pyrenean wool and cotton items. The Pyrenean region of France is famed for its long tradition in producing wool clothing, but combining this natural fabric with cotton was not discovered, as to its beneficial results, until the late 19th century. In order to buy or to at least see what wool and cotton tailoring is all about, tourists should head for the following venues:

Au Mouton des Pyrenees

Name:
Au Mouton des Pyrenees
Address:
71, Rue de la Grotte, Lourdes, France
Telephone:
0033 (0)5 62 94 62 00
Fax:
0033 (0)5 62 94 18 05

Pyrenees-Laines

Name:
Pyrenees-Laines
Address:
93, Rue de la Grotte, Lourdes, France
Telephone:
0033 (0)5 62 94 96 26

La Toison d’Or

Name:
La Toison d’Or
Address:
67, Boulevard de la Grotte, Lourdes, France
Telephone:
0033 (0)5 62 94 03 44

Mme Daurat Noëlle

Name:
Mme Daurat Noëlle
Address:
48, Boulevard de la Grotte, Lourdes, France
Telephone:
0033 (0)5 62 94 35 32

Pyrenees-Lainages

Name:
Pyrenees-Lainages
Address:
28, Avenue Bernadette Soubirous, Lourdes, France
Telephone:
0033 (0)5 62 42 00 82
Fax:
0033 (0)5 62 94 24 09

Galeries des Pyrenees

Name:
Galeries des Pyrenees
Address:
2, Place Peyramale, Lourdes, France
Telephone:
0033 (0)5 62 94 28 08
Fax:
0033 (0)5 62 42 07 04

L’Ermitage

Name:
L’Ermitage
Address:
Place Mgr Laurence, Lourdes, France
Telephone:
0033 (0)5 62 94 55 56
Fax:
0033 (0)5 62 94 64 90

Au Capulet de Bernadette

Name:
Au Capulet de Bernadette
Address:
Rue Sainte-Marie, Lourdes, France
Telephone:
0033 (0)5 62 94 21 03
Fax:
0033 (0)5 62 94 21 03

But surely whoever visits Lourdes wants to take a piece of this sacred town or, at least, a symbol of it, in view of enabling their memory of their stay in Lourdes. For such tourists, the souvenirs rendering Virgin Mary and other saints are the ideal acquisition. In fact, there is an entire industry of souvenir production and sale in Lourdes, with a factory which does not come down to the mere production of such statues, but with activities implying demonstrations in front of the visiting public. (La Fabrique)

The Factory (La Fabrique)

Name:
The Factory (La Fabrique)
Address:
3-13, Avenue des Pyrenees, Lourdes, France
Telephone:
0033 (0)5 62 94 27 44
Fax:
0033 (0)5 62 42 17 17
Opening hours:
the 15th of March to the 1st of November, 8.30am to 12am and 2pm to 7pm

However, as expected, on can easily conceive most of the shopping opportunities in Lourdes are especially conceived for pilgrims. Some tend to believe most of the items of alleged religious significance – ranging from key chains to bracelets – tend to be rather kitschy than sacred. Tarbes is deemed to yield more rewarding shopping opportunities, both as to quality and diversity, which is great since the town is only some 20 kilometers from Lourdes. All in all, one can only decide for themselves.

Other valuable and specific goods are on sale in Lourdes during the markets and fairs held each Saturday and every 2nd Thursday, in the very center of Lourdes, nearby the Congress Center. The venue is also the place where the daily market of Lourdes in hosted. In addition and by title of curiosity, tourists might want to find Lourdes is the place where a triennial horse market is held, breeders from the entire south France selling and buying their best products in terms of horse breeds. But, of course, these are events only people with a keen interest in horse breeding can actually enjoy to the full.

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