Lourdes is a tiny riverside
town that lies in the foothills of the magnificent French Pyrenees. Two
thousand years ago, it was a Roman military base, and a Gothic castle stands in
the centre of the town affording wonderful views. It is floodlit in the
evenings. But this is more than just another historic town. It was a place of refuge during the Inquisition for fleeing Cathars and also for Templar Knights, and it provided sanctuary
for Jews fleeing Nazi persecution in World War II. Franz Werfel was one of these Jews and he pledged to write
the life story of Bernadette Soubirous if he and his wife survived the journey over the Pyrenees mountains to safety in Spain. His book was titled the ‘Song of Bernadette’ which was written when he reached safety and this book was made into a film of the same name. This town feels like sacred ground to many who come here and it is where a fourteen year old peasant girl had an incredible
experience.
