Spain, Portugal & Haute Pyrenees (France)

Lourdes is a market town situated in the Pyrenees. It is part of the Hautes-Pyrénées department in the Occitanie region in southwestern France. Prior to the mid-19th century, the town was best known for its Château fort, a fortified castle that rises up from a rocky escarpment at its center.

In 1858, Lourdes rose to prominence in France and abroad due to the Marian apparitions to the peasant girl Bernadette Soubirous (later canonized a saint by the Catholic Church for her virtuous life). Shortly thereafter, the city and its Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes became among the world's most important sites for pilgrimage and religious tourism.

From 732 to 778, Lourdes was occupied by Muslims of Al-Andalus.[7] Mirat, the Muslim local leader, came under siege by Charlemagne, King of the Franks, but the Moor refused to surrender.[citation needed] According to legend, a passing eagle dropped a huge trout at Mirat's feet. Dismayed by this omen, Mirat was urged to surrender to the Queen of Heaven by the local bishop. He visited the Black Virgin of Puy and was so astounded by the icon's exceptional beauty that he decided to surrender the fort and convert to Christianity. He was baptised with the name Lorus, which was given to the town as Lourdes.

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