Catholic Pilgrimage Tour to France: Paris, Lourdes, and Fatima

Tour one of the most iconic cities in the World, known for its culture, history, monuments, and museums. Know as the City of Light, it's hard to capture the brilliance of Paris until you experience it first-hand.

Ascend to the top of Paris' most recognizable landmark. Built for the Universal Exhibit of 1189, this wrought iron tower was not meant to be permanent, and the first permit was for only 20 years. Today, it is France's global icon and has hosted over 200 million visitors.

Walk through Jardin des Tuileries, the Neo-Classical gardens outside the Louvre and continue to La Place de la Concorde for incredible views of the Champs Elysees. Explore one of the most famous avenues in the world, which offers a beautiful expression of Parisian life and architecture.

Tour the renowned Louvre Museum and see Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, the imposing Coronation of Napoleon, and many of the finest paintings and sculptures from western civilization.

Enjoy a group dinner in a local restaurant in the Latin Quarter, a section of the city that dates back to the Roman times.

The small market town of Lourdes is surrounded by the beauty of the Pyrenees. After a tumultuous history following its founding in the 8th century, the city has grown to prominence as a pilgrimage site as a result of the Marian visions of St. Bernadette.

Walk the Stations of the Cross before participating in the Candlelight Rosary Procession. The way of the Cross weaves along a steep wooden area. It was constructed by Raffl of Paris between 1898 and 1911 and is the image of the scale of the Sanctuary of Lourdes with 115 figures represented in brightly painted cast iron at 15 stations along the 1,500-meter path.

See the Grotto where the Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous 18 times in 1858. It is a place of beauty and the waters that run through the Grotto are believed to have healing powers.

Walk to the Boly Mill, where St. Bernadette was born, and to the "Cachot" which is where she was living when she saw the Apparitions.

Visit the chapel where St. Bernadette had her first Holy Communion and the Parish Church where she was baptized. This visit also includes the Hospital Oratory.

Burgos has long been a destination for travelers to France and Santiago de Compostela. Lying on a central plateau in northern Spain, this ancient city continues to assert its former status as a capital city in the Spanish Gothic architecture of its heyday.

Explore the Catedral de Santa Maria, one of the most celebrated churches in Europe. Built in diverse styles, predominantly flamboyant Gothic, it took 300 years to complete. The 16th century Capilla del Condestable, behind the main altar, is one of the best examples of Isabelline-Gothic architecture.

Enjoy a walking through the city center, beginning at the Convento de Santa Ursula. This walk will take you to the Monument to Unamuno and the Casa de las Conchas before continuing into the Plaza Mayor, one of Spain's largest and grandest squares.

This university was founded in 1218 by Alfonso IX. You'll enter the Patio de las Escuelas Menores to admire the Plateresque architectural style of the buildings before continuing to the Escuelas Menores Building to view the huge zodiac fresco, the Salamanca Sky.

These two cathedrals are built side-by-side and offer a contrast in styles, ranging from Baroque to Romanesque to Renaissance. In the Old Cathedral, a 53-panel altar-piece painted by Nicolas Florentino frames the statue of Salamanca's patron saint, the 12th century, Virgen de la Vega. After leaving the cathedrals, you'll go through Salamanca's old quarter to the 1st century Puente Romano, the Convento de las Duenas, the Iglesia-Convento de San Esteben and the magnificent Torre del Clavero.

En route, you'll stop in Coimbra, a beautiful university city which began as a Roman settlement. It was invaded by Germanic tribes and Moors before becoming the capital of the Kingdom of Portugal in the Middle Ages.

Enjoy a walking tour through the University of Coimbra, where the highlights include the Porta Perrea, the Via Latina, the Sala dos Capelos, and the University Chapel containing an 18th century organ, 16th century candelabra and 17th century tiles.

Fatima is associated with three local children who while guarding their sheep witnessed an apparition of a lady dressed in white. The lady indicated that she was sent by God with a message of prayer, repentance, and consecrations. She visited the children on the 13th day of each month from May to October. The last apparition was witnessed by 70,000 pilgrims and is known as the "Miracle of the Sun."

Tour the pristine white neoclassical Basillica of Our Lady of Fatima and the surround Plaza to see the Monument to the Sacred Heart of Jesus built in 1923.

This open-air chapel was built on the site of the appearances. Inside the chapel stands a single white column over the site of a small oak tree which the Virgin Mary appeared on May 13, 1917. The original oak fell victim to years of souvenir collectors but ar large replacement tree grows near the entrance to the sanctuary by the rectory.

Tour the original homes of Jacinta, Francesco, and Sr. Lucia. Walk the Stations of the Cross and pray in the Chapel of Calvary. At night, you'll join the Evening Procession of the Pilgrim Statue.