+1 (800) 653-0017 hello@canterburypilgrimages.com
+1 (800) 653-0017 hello@canterburypilgrimages.com
Dawn over the French Alps

Marian Shrines and French Saints

La Salette, Ars, Paray-le-Monial and Pontmain

Ten days among the apparition shrines of France, from La Salette in the Alps to Ars, Paray-le-Monial, Nevers, Chartres, Pontmain and Lisieux, ending in Paris.

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

Twelve stops among the shrines of France

Lyon, La Salette, Ars, Paray-le-Monial, Nevers, Chartres, Alençon, Pontmain, Lisieux, Normandy, Rouen and Paris, north and west across the country.

Itinerary · EU_FR-10D-02

The Marian Shrines Itinerary

From Lyon straight up into the Alps to La Salette, then Ars and Paray-le-Monial, Nevers and Chartres, Alençon and Pontmain, two nights at Lisieux for Normandy, and three in Paris. 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 – 3

Lyon, La Salette and Paray-le-Monial

Photograph to come · The Sanctuary of Our Lady of La Salette in the Alps
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of La Salette in the Alps
Day 1

Departure from the USA

Our pilgrimage begins with an overnight transatlantic flight to France, connecting through Paris to Lyon, the first of ten days among the Marian shrines and the saints of France. Dinner is served in flight.
Day 2

Lyon and La Salette

We arrive in Lyon, where our local professional tour escort welcomes us, and we transfer by motorcoach into the French Alps to La Salette, where Our Lady appeared in 1846. We gather for a welcome dinner as we settle in for our first night in France.Overnight in La Salette.
Day 3

La Salette, Ars and Paray-le-Monial

We visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of La Salette, where in 1846 Our Lady appeared weeping to shepherd children Maximin Giraud and Mélanie Calvat, entrusting them with a message of repentance, and celebrate Mass there. We continue to Ars-sur-Formans, home of St. John Vianney, and venerate his incorrupt remains above the altar of the Basilica. We proceed to Paray-le-Monial, where Christ appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, revealing devotion to His Sacred Heart, and visit the medieval basilica.Overnight in Paray-le-Monial.
Day 4 – 6

Nevers, Chartres and Lisieux

Photograph to come · The Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Paray-le-Monial
The Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Paray-le-Monial
Day 4

Nevers and Chartres

We travel to Nevers, where St. Bernadette Soubirous spent her final years as a Sister of Charity at the Convent of St. Gildard. We pray before her incorrupt body, preserved in the convent chapel, and celebrate Mass at the Sanctuary of Nevers. We continue to Chartres and visit the Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres, renowned for its stained glass and its veneration of the Sancta Camisa, the tunic tradition holds Our Lady wore at the Nativity.Overnight in Chartres.
Day 5

Alençon, Pontmain and Lisieux

We trace the roots of the Little Flower, beginning in Alençon, birthplace of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, where we visit the house of her birth and Notre-Dame Basilica, where her parents, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin, were married in 1858. We continue to Pontmain, where in 1871 Our Lady appeared silently above a barn roof with the words ‘But pray, my children,’ and celebrate Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Hope.Overnight in Lisieux.
Day 6

Normandy and the D-Day Landing Sites

We celebrate Mass at the Church of Notre-Dame de la Paix in Sainte-Mère-Église, the first French town liberated on D-Day. We continue to the landing beaches of Normandy, walking the ground where Allied forces stormed ashore on June 6, 1944, and pause for a prayer service at the American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, resting place of nearly ten thousand American servicemen.Overnight in Lisieux.
Day 7 – 10

Normandy, Rouen and Paris

The Basilica of St. Therese of Lisieux
The Basilica of St. Thérèse at Lisieux
Day 7

Lisieux, Rouen and Paris

We return to Lisieux to visit the Basilica of St. Thérèse and its crypt, the Cathedral of St. Peter, and Les Buissonnets, the childhood home where St. Thérèse Martin grew up before entering Carmel at age fifteen and writing ‘Story of a Soul.’ We continue to Rouen, where St. Joan of Arc was tried and burned at the stake in 1431, and celebrate Mass at Rouen Cathedral before proceeding to Paris.Overnight in Paris.
Day 8

Shrines of Paris

We begin at Rue du Bac, where in 1830 Our Lady appeared to St. Catherine Labouré, entrusting her with the design of the Miraculous Medal, and celebrate Mass at the Shrine of the Miraculous Medal. We continue to the Shrine of St. Vincent de Paul and venerate his remains, then visit Notre-Dame Cathedral and Sainte-Chapelle, built by King Louis IX to house the relic of Christ’s Crown of Thorns.Overnight in Paris.
Day 9

Montmartre and the Seine River

Our final full day opens with a highlight tour of Paris, including the Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Élysées, the Arc de Triomphe, the Tomb of Napoleon, Place de la Concorde, the Opéra, Bastille Square and Place des Vosges. We continue to Montmartre to visit Artists’ Square and Sacré-Coeur Basilica, and celebrate Mass there before a farewell dinner cruise along the Seine River.Overnight in Paris.
Day 10

Return Home

With hearts renewed by the grace of pilgrimage and the intercession of Our Lady of La Salette, St. John Vianney, and St. Thérèse of Lisieux, we transfer to the airport for our return flight home to the United States.

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®
Photograph to come · La Salette, the sanctuary in the Alps
La SaletteThe sanctuary at 1,800 metres, where Our Lady appeared to two children in 1846.
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
Photograph to come · The Basilica of Ars
The Basilica of Ars
Photograph to come · The Convent of Saint-Gildard at Nevers
The Convent of Saint-Gildard at Nevers
Photograph to come · The stained glass of Chartres Cathedral
The stained glass of Chartres Cathedral
Photograph to come · The Martin family home at Alençon
The Martin family home at Alençon
Photograph to come · The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Pontmain
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Pontmain
Photograph to come · The Basilica of Sacré-Coeur on Montmartre
The Basilica of Sacré-Coeur on Montmartre

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?

June through September suit this route best. La Salette sits high in the Alps and the mountain road to it is at its easiest in summer, while Normandy and the Loire are mild and green. The winter months are short on daylight and the alpine section is the first thing weather closes.

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?

    You May Also Be Interested In