Lourdes lies at the foothills of the Pyrenees in south-western France. Originally it was a small market town, but following the claims that there were apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes to Bernadette in 1858, Lourdes has developed into a major place of Christian Pilgrimage. There is plenty to see and do in Lourdes other than visiting the sanctuary. The most prominent feature of the town is the fortified castle that rises up from a rocky escarpment. There are many museums to visit and spectacular sights to see in the surrounding mountain.