What Are the Best Catholic Pilgrimage Sites in France?

France is one of the world’s top pilgrimage destinations, home to numerous major Catholic sites. Let Select International guide you on a journey to many of these meaningful sites and give you the experience of a lifetime.

 

What Can Paris Offer the Pilgrim?

Our Lady of Paris, also called Notre-Dame de Paris or Notre-Dame Cathedral, symbolizes faith and history. This beautiful French Gothic cathedral, devoted to the Virgin Mary, sits on the eastern side of the Seine River’s Île de la Cité. Notre-Dame, built between the 12th and 14th centuries, houses an astounding array of historical and religious objects and has inspired millions of pilgrims and tourists worldwide.

Since its completion, Notre-Dame de Paris has witnessed innumerable historical events. One of the worst was the fire that engulfed the cathedral in April 2019. The fire extensively damaged the building, destroying the roof and spire. Thanks to worldwide contributions and support, and the hard work of numerous artisans and specialists, religious services resumed in December 2024. However, some exterior restoration work will continue through 2026.

Our Lady is not the only option. Discover other pilgrimage sites in Paris, such as the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. Established in 1813, the chapel became significant in December 1830 when Catherine Labouré, a novice with the Daughters of Charity, beheld the Virgin Mary there. During this visitation, the Virgin Mary requested that she create the Miraculous Medal, also called the Medallion of the Immaculate Conception.

Of course, you can also visit the royal crypt of the Basilica of Saint-Denis, the Church of Saint-Sulpice, and the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, which rises at Montmartre’s highest point, 200 meters above the Seine River. Also known as the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Montmartre, the Catholic Church dedicated it to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a symbol of God’s boundless, passionate love for humanity. 

Why Not Discover the Rural French Spiritual Trails?

The exceptional Romanesque-Byzantine shrine in Lisieux is the second-largest pilgrimage site in France. Only Lourdes attracts more pilgrims. It honors the “Little Flower”, the Carmelite nun Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, who followed her “Little Way” by doing little, everyday things with great love. She represents simplicity and confidence in God’s love. Her writings include The Story of a Soul, an exquisite and meaningful autobiography that has become a foundational sacred text.

In addition to visiting the Burgundy town of Paray-le-Monial where Christ revealed his Sacred Heart to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, you may also have the opportunity to visit Chartres Cathedral. This 12th-century French Gothic UNESCO World Heritage site is the end of the annual 60-mile Pentecost pilgrimage from Paris, where you can see the Veil of the Virgin Mary and astounding Bleu de Chartres stained-glass windows.

Let Select International Tours in France design a personalized tour for your group of ten or more people that includes the medieval Marian sanctuary Rocamadour (the site of the 1846 Marian apparition of the Virgin Mary in the French Alps), the Sanctuary of Our Lady of La Salette, and the Mont Saint-Michel UNESCO World Heritage Site in Normandy.

You can also visit Ars-sur-Formans, a pilgrimage site where St. John Vianney served as the village priest during the 19th century and was later canonized as the “patron saint of all priests in the universe.” There’s also Nevers (where St. Bernadette spent her later years), and the medieval routes toward Santiago de Compostela. Your group can choose the destinations you wish to visit, decide when you want to do so, and Select will arrange everything.

 

Which of Our Tours Can Work for You?

Let us know if you would like to explore the Grotto of Massabielle in Lourdes, where the Virgin Mary appeared to the 14-year-old peasant girl, Bernadette Soubirous. Or whether you want to join the candlelight procession from the grotto through the sanctuary in the evening, which many describe as the highlight of their visit.

Contact Select International Tours to find out which package you should join to walk the same path as St. Joan of Arc in Rouen and St. Thérèse, one of the most admired Catholic saints, in Lisieux. You will make new memories and can participate in daily Mass when you book a tour with us.

Our trips change frequently, so let us know what you would be most interested in. Visits to shrines and excursions to Rouen, Giverny, and Paris? An optional extension to Lourdes?  You can participate in the daily rosary at the Grotto and see the legendary baths when you visit Lourdes. Reach out to Select International and discover what we can do for you.

 

Looking for a Specialized Catholic Pilgrimage Tour Operator?

You’ve found one! Our eight- to 12-day pilgrimages in France blend guided historical tours with spiritual retreats, including knowledgeable guides, visits to eminent shrines, and daily Mass. Experts design our itineraries, and our tours include transportation, daily breakfasts, many of your dinners, luxury coaches, and first-rate accommodation in meticulously selected hotels.

Book a call with us, whether you want to lead a group of 20 pilgrims, design a personalized tour for 10, or discuss the options we have available. We at Select International would love to hear from you so we can organize an experience you will never forget.

 

Frequently Asked Questions 

• Do I need to be Catholic to join a pilgrimage tour to France?

While our tours focus on Catholicism and include daily Mass with a priest who travels with you, many visitors of different faiths or no faith at all are drawn to these sites for their history, architecture, and spiritual atmosphere. Anyone who feels drawn is welcome.

 

• What is the best time of year to visit Lourdes and other French pilgrimage sites?

The pilgrimage season generally runs from April to October, with the summer months being the busiest. Visiting in May or September offers a good balance because the major processions and events are still running, but crowds are more manageable.

 

• How physically demanding are these pilgrimage tours?

It varies by itinerary. Sites like Chartres and Mont-Saint-Michel involve walking over uneven terrain, while river cruise options are far more relaxed. If you require special accommodation for using a wheelchair or other mobility device, please contact us, and we can direct you to the most suitable trip.