Lourdes / Lannemezan

The Grotto of Lourdes, at the foot of the Pyrenees, is a world-famous place of pilgrimage, attracting millions of visitors every year. It was here that the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858. With its spring of water considered miraculous, it is a place of prayer and meditation where visitors can light a candle, touch the rock and attend torch-lit processions.

A 110-hectare hillside reservoir designed to keep low water levels in the Arros valley, Lac de l'Arrêt-Darré is an ideal place to take a break along the Vélosud cycle route. As well as a panoramic view of the Pyrenees and a tavern to quench stomachs and thirsts, the site has also recently been converted into a stopping-off point for touring cyclists.

Between the valleys of the Adour and Baïse rivers, the route passes through the rolling countryside of the former county of Bigorre. As well as putting a strain on cyclists' thighs, all these climbs offer panoramic views of the Pyrenees, from the Comminges mountains to Bigorre.