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The sanctuary at Lourdes lit at dusk

France Pilgrimages

Paris, Lourdes and the Shrines of France

Twelve days across France, from the Miraculous Medal and Sacré-Coeur in Paris to Lisieux, Chartres, Nevers, Paray-le-Monial and Ars, ending with three nights at Lourdes.

Departures

Current Tours to France

Upcoming departures to France. Each group has its own host, dates, and itinerary. The route below is our standard.

All current pilgrimages
The Route

Eight stops across France

Paris, Lisieux, Chartres, Nevers, Paray-le-Monial and Ars, then south by air from Lyon to Toulouse and on to Lourdes.

Itinerary · EU_FR-12D-01

Our Standard France Pilgrimage

This is the route we most often run for groups in France. Your group travels on its own dates, and the itinerary can be adjusted to fit the time you have and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

Day 1 – 4

Paris

The Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris
The Basilica of Sacré-Coeur on Montmartre
Day 1

Departure from the USA

Our pilgrimage begins with an overnight transatlantic flight to Paris, the first of twelve days among the great shrines of France. Dinner and breakfast are served in flight.
Day 2

Arrival in Paris

Our local tour escort meets us at Charles de Gaulle and accompanies us by motorcoach to our hotel. We gather in the evening for a welcome dinner to begin the pilgrimage together.Overnight in Paris.
Day 3

Paris and the Rue du Bac

We celebrate Mass at the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal on the Rue du Bac, where Our Lady appeared to St. Catherine Labouré from 1830 and asked that a medal be struck; Catherine’s incorrupt body rests there still. We continue to Saint-Sulpice, then to the Church of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, where the saint’s incorrupt body is enshrined above the high altar, and end at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene.Overnight in Paris.
Day 4

Montmartre, Notre-Dame and Sainte-Chapelle

We celebrate Mass at the Basilica of Sacré-Coeur on Montmartre, raised as an act of national consecration after the Franco-Prussian War and in perpetual Eucharistic adoration since 1885. We descend to the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris, restored to the faithful after the fire of 2019, then to Sainte-Chapelle, built by King Louis IX to house the Crown of Thorns, and conclude at the Louvre.Overnight in Paris.
Day 5 – 6

Lisieux and Chartres

The Basilica of St. Therese at Lisieux in spring
The Basilica of St. Thérèse at Lisieux
Day 5

Lisieux

We drive into Normandy to Lisieux and the footsteps of St. Thérèse Martin, the Little Flower, who entered the Carmelite convent at fifteen and died there at twenty-four, leaving Story of a Soul and a legacy that made her a Doctor of the Church in 1997. We celebrate Mass at the Basilica of St. Thérèse, then visit Les Buissonnets and the convent where she lived and died.Overnight in Lisieux.
Day 6

Chartres

We continue to Chartres, one of the great Marian shrines of the world, which has drawn pilgrims since the early Middle Ages around the Sancta Camisia, the tunic venerated as the garment worn by Our Lady at the birth of Christ and brought here in 876. Its twelfth and thirteenth century glass carries salvation history across more than 150 panels. The afternoon is free in the medieval city.Overnight in Chartres.
Day 7 – 8

Nevers, Paray-le-Monial and Ars

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes below the Pyrenees
The Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Paray-le-Monial
Day 7

Nevers and Paray-le-Monial

At the Convent of Saint-Gildard in Nevers the incorrupt body of St. Bernadette Soubirous rests in a glass reliquary. She spent the last thirteen years of her life here as a Sister of Charity and died in 1879 at thirty-five. We continue to Paray-le-Monial for Mass at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, where Our Lord appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and revealed his desire for devotion to his Sacred Heart.Overnight in Paray-le-Monial.
Day 8

Ars

We drive northeast to Ars-sur-Formans, where St. Jean-Marie Vianney was parish priest from 1818 until his death in 1859. Known across Europe as the Curé of Ars, he spent up to eighteen hours a day in the confessional. We celebrate Mass at the basilica, where his incorrupt body rests above the high altar, and visit his home and the small parish church of his ministry.Overnight in Ars-sur-Formans.
Day 9 – 12

Lourdes

The Rosary Basilica at Lourdes
The Grotto of Massabielle at Lourdes
Day 9

Lyon, Toulouse and Lourdes

We fly from Lyon to Toulouse and continue by motorcoach through the foothills of the Pyrenees to Lourdes. After checking in we go down to the sanctuary for the first time and join pilgrims from around the world for the evening Candlelight Marian Procession.Overnight in Lourdes.
Day 10

Lourdes and the Grotto

The day is given entirely to Lourdes, where Our Lady appeared eighteen times to the fourteen year old Bernadette Soubirous between February and July of 1858. We celebrate Mass at the Grotto of Massabielle, beside the spring that has flowed ever since, and visit the Basilica of the Rosary and the upper Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. The afternoon offers the Water Gesture and the Cachot, Bernadette’s home.Overnight in Lourdes.
Day 11

Lourdes, the Camino or a day at leisure

A day of prayer and rest. Those who wish walk about seven and a half miles of the old Camino route into Lourdes on foot, along the paths generations of pilgrims have taken to reach the shrine. Others may return to the Grotto, visit the Basilica of St. Pius X, or make the Way of the Cross on the hillside above the town.Overnight in Lourdes.
Day 12

Return Home

We transfer to Toulouse-Blagnac Airport for our return flight home, with hearts renewed by the grace of pilgrimage and the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Thérèse, St. Bernadette and St. John Vianney.

Why leaders choose Canterbury

“Canterbury treats you like family! They handle everything, from creating exciting itineraries to managing calls, registrations, and payments.”

Patrick MadridPatrick Madrid
Catholic Speaker, Author & Host of The Patrick Madrid Show on Relevant Radio®
The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception at Lourdes
LourdesThe candlelight procession crossing the esplanade below the basilicas.
Dates

Your group travels on its own dates.

Tell us the window you have in mind and we will build the itinerary around it: the time you have, and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

Your pilgrimage includes

Tour Package Includes

These inclusions can be easily tailored to the individual needs of your group

  • Daily Mass at the churches we visit
  • Round-trip group airfare
  • Airport transfers on arrival & departure
  • 4-Star hotel accommodations
  • Private motorcoach transportation
  • Breakfast & dinner served daily
  • Wine served with some dinners
  • Dedicated tour manager
  • Licensed guiding & admission fees
  • Porterage service at hotels
  • Whisper headsets when touring
  • Tips for hotel & restaurant staff
  • 9 – 5 PM (EST) reservation support
  • 24/7 travel emergency support
  • Canterbury Mobile App
For the group leader

What you get as the group leader

You travel free.

Every group earns complimentary places. The more pilgrims you bring, the more you earn. How complimentary places work

No financial risk.

If the group does not fill, deposits are returned. You owe nothing and neither do your pilgrims. What happens if a group does not fill

We produce the promotional materials.

Flyers, a registration page, and what you need to invite your people. Our guide to promoting a pilgrimage

We handle your pilgrims.

Registrations, rooming lists, payment plans and the phone calls. How leading a pilgrimage works

In your pocket

The Canterbury Mobile App

Every pilgrim in your group gets the app. Their itinerary, hotels and flights, the prayers of the day and a way to reach one another, all in one place and kept current as the pilgrimage unfolds.

  • Group chat

    Your whole group in one thread, so a change of plan reaches everyone at once.

  • Their itinerary

    The full day-by-day schedule, always current, in every pilgrim’s pocket.

  • Hotels

    Where the group is staying each night, with addresses and dates.

  • Flights

    Flight details kept alongside everything else, not in a separate email.

  • Daily prayers

    The prayers of the day, including the Liturgy of the Hours.

  • Shrine passport

    A keepsake record of the shrines your group visits along the way.

  • Live updates

    Times and meeting points pushed to everyone the moment they change.

Photographs
The candlelight procession at Lourdes
The candlelight procession at Lourdes
The Seine at sunset, Paris
The Seine at sunset, Paris
The Basilica of St. Therese of Lisieux
The Basilica of St. Therese of Lisieux
The sanctuary at Lourdes in autumn
The sanctuary at Lourdes
The Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris
Notre-Dame de Paris
The Eiffel Tower at sunrise, Paris
Paris at sunrise

What group leaders say

“They’re big enough to handle any problem that arises, and small enough to craft truly unique experiences.”

Chris StefanickChris Stefanick
Founder & President of Real Life Catholic
Before you ask

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to travel to France?

May, June and September suit this route best. Days are long, the north is mild and green, and the roads south are clear of the worst weather. July and August bring the heaviest crowds of the year to Lourdes and to Paris, and the winter months are short on daylight for a route that covers this much ground.

How physically demanding is this pilgrimage?

Moderate. Most days involve two to four hours on your feet, with walking on uneven ground, ancient stone, and steps at archaeological sites. Pilgrims who can manage a full day of sightseeing at their own pace do well. If anyone in your group has mobility limitations, tell us early and we will adapt the days around them. What activity level means.

What is generally not included?

Travel insurance, lunches, drinks beyond those served with included meals, personal expenses, and gratuities for your tour manager and driver. Any of these can be built into your package on request, so tell us what you would like covered and we will arrange it. Passports and visa fees are the one exception and remain the responsibility of each pilgrim.

Do I need a passport or visa for France?

A US passport valid for at least three months beyond your return date is required, with blank pages for entry stamps. No visa is needed for a stay under 90 days. Entry requirements for US travellers to the Schengen area are changing, so we confirm what applies to your departure with your group before you travel.

Can our priest celebrate Mass at the churches?

Yes. Daily Mass is built into the itinerary, and we arrange times and locations in advance with each church. Your priest should travel with a celebret or letter of good standing from his bishop or superior. We handle the scheduling.

How many pilgrims do you need for a group?

Most of our groups are between 20 and 50 pilgrims, and we can arrange smaller tours as well. We have also organized pilgrimages for groups as large as 2,500, so whatever size your group turns out to be, we can build for it. Minimum group size for a group flight.

Enquire

Interested in Leading a Pilgrimage to France?

A pilgrimage consultant replies within one business day. No deposit or commitment.

    Your Information

    Your Group

    First time? You are in good company. Many of our group leaders start right here, and we guide you through every step.

    Where You Would Like to Go

    Destinations of interest (check all that apply)

    These are some of our most popular destinations, but we build CUSTOM ITINERARIES anywhere in the world. If you do not see your destination, tell us below.

    Italy, Rome and AssisiFrance, Lourdes and ParisPortugal and FátimaSpain and the Camino de SantiagoPortugal, Spain and France togetherGreece and TurkeyThe Holy LandEgypt and Mount SinaiPoland, Prague and Central EuropeMedjugorje and the BalkansIreland and the United KingdomMexico and Our Lady of GuadalupeArgentinaPeruJapan, Nagasaki and AkitaUnited States and Canada shrinesA pilgrimage cruiseSomewhere else, or not sure yet

    When

    Group Size and Budget

    Complimentary places are arranged based on the size of your group. Let us know how many you expect so we can request them from our suppliers from the start.

    A Few Last Details

    Would you like sample itineraries emailed to you?

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