Evoking Lourdes in the Middle Ages

In Lourdes, the “cagots”, a population victim of segregation, had their own Saint-Jean chapel. The construction was still standing in 1872 and was used as a barn by the owner of the Senjouan baths.

The Baüs Tower owes its name to the cliff which supported the south part of the city fortification wall. It was located in the middle of this street, where is now the Hôtel de Rome. It was used as a prison during several periods. In 1871, the municipality destroyed it to make easier the passage of cabs and carriages under its vault. The Castle area with its medieval streets led also to this tower.

The Garnavie tower (13th century) was named originally the Guigne tower because of its perfect location to keep a close eye on the village and then the castle at a glance. Then it took the name of the part of town where it stands. This tower, a property of the community, has survived the city urbanisation. Listed on the additional Inventory of National Heritage in 1946, it was restored in 1994.

This half tower, situated in the southwest angle of the first fortification row in front of the defence line, was built on a small cliff and dominated the market square. The fortification wall had been opened for the alley but it is still present in the wall of the building facing it. There is also a turret surrounded by a small garden, from the Jerusalem Hospitallers’ house.

The fortified castle was built in the Middle Ages on a natural defensive elevation. Because of its high strategic and defensive qualities, the county site was subject to numerous conflicts. It had changed hands frequently and was modified after Vauban’s intervention. Then it became a State prison under Louis XIV. It was bought again by the community in 1894. In 1921 the Musée Pyrénéen was inaugurated there.

The “rue du Bourg” was the main street of the city. Noble houses of the 17th and 18th centuries are still visible such as the mansions of General Maransin, General d’Embarrère and General Duprat. The “chaussée du Bourg” was the prolongation of the “rue du Bourg”. It was a way treated with lime to strengthen its ground. At the n°29 of “rue de la Grotte” the left corner of a half-timbered house is visible

The Roman church was built in the 11th century and housed a necropolis of sarcophaguses made of stone from the Béout. It was destroyed in 1904-1907 because the authorities judged that it was too small and too antiquated to foster the crowds coming to Lourdes. Its furniture, such as some decorative elements, is preserved in the Musée Pyrénéen. In 1991, the foundations of a square tower and a crossing point of antic ways were found.

The construction of the Sacré-Cœur parish church started in 1875 on the request of Abbot Peyramale. It was inaugurated in 1903 and the bell tower was finished in 1936. Abbot Peyramale’s grave can be seen in the crypt.

At the bottom of the “rue Basse” was the gate tower of the north entrance of Lourdes. People entered into the city by the Enjouan slope to arrive at the Arrieux Bridge where this gate tower was standing. It was destroyed in 1804. Up the Lapacca river is still a tower of the 13th century, the last vestige of a fortified county watermill.

This was originally probably a major gate tower because it led directly to the northern point of the “rue du Bourg”, and above all to the horse ramp leading to the fortified castle. The entrance of the castle ramp had probably its own system of gate tower, or of small entrance castle. In 1810, this entrance to the city was destroyed on request of the Dauzat-d’Embarrère family.

The suspended gardens existed because of the creation of a bastioned gate built after the visit of Vauban in 1685. This access on the cliff side has required the creation of a path with addition of earth. Terraces supported by small walls were used afterwards as vegetable gardens for the garrison. After 1858, the plots were operated by the owners of inns and guest houses.