Sanctuaire Sainte-Bernadette de Nevers
Nevers Nièvre Founded in 1850
In the footsteps of the visionary of Lourdes
In the heart of the Burgundy region of Nièvre, on the banks of the Loire, the Sanctuaire Sainte-Bernadette de Nevers is a major pilgrimage site run by the congregation of the Sisters of Charity and Christian Instruction of Nevers, set within a five-hectare park. Founded in the 17th century by Jean-Baptiste Delaveyne, a priest and Benedictine monk, the congregation is dedicated to serving the poorest and the sick, uniting a life of prayer with active commitment. It was here, at the Saint-Gildard convent, that Bernadette Soubirous spent the last thirteen years of her life; her body rests here, enshrined in a golden reliquary.
Tens of thousands of pilgrims come each year to find renewal and pray in the school of Saint Bernadette. Whether you are walking the routes to Santiago de Compostela or Vézelay, on your way to Lourdes or Paray-le-Monial, the sanctuary welcomes guests for retreats, gatherings, or a quiet stop for recollection, in a peaceful setting where rooms look out onto the flower-filled cloister.
What awaits you
Practical information
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served every day of the year. The daily menu (starter, main course, dessert) is offered at €19 for lunch and dinner. Picnic baskets and snacks are also available as needed.
Accommodation
60 rooms sleeping 1 to 5 people, suitable for families. Total capacity of 130 people. All rooms overlook the cloister and its flower-filled courtyard. The upper floors are accessible by elevator.
Accessibility
The rooms are accessible to people with reduced mobility. The upper floors are accessible by elevator.
Arrival & departure
The sanctuary has a free, monitored parking lot open 24/7. The Nevers train station is a 10-minute walk away (600 m).
Gîte Saint-Michel
Self-contained and located in the heart of the park, the Gîte Saint-Michel welcomes youth groups, cyclists, hikers, and families, with a capacity of 15 people.
Getting there
2 hours from Paris (Paris–Clermont-Ferrand line), 3 hours from Lyon (Lyon-Nantes line), and 1h30 from Clermont-Ferrand. The sanctuary is 500 m from the train station.
232 km from Paris (A6 and A77), 150 km from Clermont-Ferrand (A71), 65 km from Bourges, 180 km from Dijon, and 230 km from Lyon
Along the Loire (58 VR6 — the sanctuary even has a secure bike parking area) or on the Camino de Santiago