Lisieux a city of pilgrimage
Lisieux the capital of Pays d’Auge, is the second most important pilgrimage site in France after Lourdes thanks to Thérèse Martin (1873-1897), a Carmelite nun who was canonized in 1925 as Sainte-Thérèse de l’Enfant Jésus.
Lisieux attracts about 700,000 pilgrims every year and has 19,755 inhabitants.
Sainte-Thérèse Basilica is gorgeous and unique : it’s definitely worth a visit !
General info, history and Sainte-Thérèse
Practical Information
OFFICE OF TOURISM
11 rue d’Alençon, 14100 Lisieux
Ph : 02 31 48 18 10
Open all year round :
– April to May :
From Monday to Saturday : 9:30am-12:30pm / 1:30pm-6pm.
Closed on Sunday.
– June to September :
From Monday to Saturday : 9:30am-12:30pm / 1:30pm-6pm.
Sunday : 9:30am-1:30pm.
– October to March :
From Monday to Saturday : 9:30am-12:30pm / 1:30pm-5:30pm.
Closed on Sunday.
Closed on Monday afternoons from November to March.
– Open on the following public holidays :
May 1 & 8, Whit Monday, July 14, August 15.
WEEKLY MARKET
Every Saturday morning on Place de la République.
WHERE TO PARK ?
I advise you to park at Sainte-Thérèse Basilica where the car park is free.
Click HERE to get the map (on page 2) of the parking lots in Lisieux :
In all cases, you must register your license plate in the parking meter (except on free days).
A bit of history
Lisieux was 75% destroyed in 1944 by the Allied bombings because it was a major rail and road junction that the Germans could use to send reinforcements to the landing beaches.
Nevertheless many of the places linked to Sainte-Thérèse are still there today. In 1944, many victims found refuge in the crypt of the basilica that was miraculously spared… It certainely resisted thanks to the quality of its construction.
Lisieux was liberated by the British troops on August, 23 1944 but was a field of ruins.
Before 1944, the town was known as the « capital of carved wood » : its narrow streets were lined with medieval houses with carved half-timbers, elaborate facades and sheltering hundred-year-old shops.
Who was Thérèse of Lisieux ?
Thérèse Martin was born in Alençon (south of Normandy) in 1873 and moved to Lisieux with her family when she was four. They lived in a townhouse (called Les Buissonnets) until she entered the Carmelite Monastery of Lisieux at 15 years old. Thérèse was fascinated by religious life and wrote a lot about her spiritual life. She died of tuberculosis in 1897 at the age of 24.
Unknown during her lifetime, she became posthumously popular and a model of piety of the 19th century after the publication of her memoirs in 1898 « Histoire d’une âme » (in English, title was « The Little Flower of Jesus ») : thousands of readers are deeply touched and the book is a huge success. Nowadays, her memoirs are translated into more than 40 languages.
She was declared a Saint (= was canonized) in 1925 by Pope Pius XI and Doctor of the Church by the Catholic Church in 1997 by Pope Jean Paul II.
Her parents Louis and Zélie Martin were canonized in 2015.
Want to learn more about Sainte-Thérèse ?
Have a look at the website of the Sanctuary of Lisieux HERE.
Contact : info@therese-de-lisieux.com
What to visit in Lisieux ?
Visit Lisieux with izi.Travel App
Izi .Travel App is a free application to download on your smartphone to get an audioguided and geolocated visit of the main sites of Lisieux.
Available in French and English.
A 2-hour walking tour of Lisieux town center giving a good overview of the city’s history.
The Highlights of the city
# 1-2-3 : sites linked to Sainte-Thérèse of Lisieux, the Basilica being a must-see.
1- Basilica of Sainte-Thérèse
Sainte-Thérèse Avenue, 14100 Lisieux.
Not right in the city center but not far, located on a hill overlooking Lisieux, behing the train station.
– Free admission. Except access to the dome in July & August (around 3 euros).
– Opening days :
7/7 all year round
9:30am-5:30pm (until 7pm from April 1 to October 31).
The dome can be visited only in July & August : 1:30pm-5:30pm.
A MUST-SEE EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT RELIGIOUS.
- One of the largest churches built in the 20th century where the relics of Sainte-Thérèse (bones of her right arm) and her parents can be found.
- Its construction started in 1929 in a neo-Byzantine style mixed with Art Deco decor. The basilica was blessed in 1937 and consecrated in 1954. It reminds of the Sacré Coeur church in Paris.
- It is impressive by its gigantism, its magnificent mosaics and stained glass windows and also its dome almost 100 meters high !
- The nave can welcome up to 4,000 people seated and around 900,000 people come to visit the site every year.
- Don’t miss the crypt with its multicolore mosaics in the Art Deco style where the relics of Thérèse’s parents are.
- To do absolutely but only accessible in July and August 1:30pm-5:30pm (3 euros) : climb to the top of the Basilica (the Dome) to admire the 2000 m2 of mosaics and get a wonderful panorama of the city. Follow the sign « Entrée du Dôme » and climb the 305 steps. It’s worth !! An elevator can also take you up to 60 meters high.
- The Diorama (Lisieux Wax Museum), is at the foot of the Basilica and shows 11 scenes from the life of Sainte Thérèse. Audioguides in 6 languages. Free entrance.
Want an unusual guided visit of the Basilica ?
The Sanctuary of Lisieux organizes a few Saturdays in summer, a guided tour of Sainte-Therèse Basilica.
This Norman Experience is called « Visite Insolite » and includes a special access to the dome and its structure with a specialized guide (visit in French only).
Lunch at the Ermitage (the Sanctuary reception center) is included for a total price of around 25 euros per person.
A good option if you want to learn more about Thérèse and the basilica with a very interesting guide and access the dome and its concrete structure.
More info (inquiry, reservation, dates) HERE.
2- The Carmel of Lisieux
The former monastery of Sainte-Thérèse where she entered at the age of 15 until her death at 24.
Only the chapel, the Shrine and the Memorial can be visited.
Free admission.
CARMEL OF LISIEUX, ITS CHAPEL AND MEMORIAL.
35 rue du Carmel, 14100 Lisieux.
Ph : 02 31 48 55 08
Email : carmel.lisieux@orange.fr
Website HERE.
– Open 7/7 / The Memorial is closed in January.
– Opening times of the Chapel and the Shrine
– From Tuesday to Saturday : 7:20am-7pm (until 6:30pm Nov 1-March 15).
– On Sunday, Monday and public holidays : 7:45am-7pm (until 6:30pm Nov 1-March 15)
– Opening times of the Memorial
9am-6:30pm (7pm in summer).
Closed in January.
- Monastery founded in 1835 , chapel built between 1852 and 1877 and enlarged in 1923 to accommodate the relics of Sainte Thérèse during her Beatification and to welcome the growing number of pilgrims.
- In the chapel, you can see the Shrine (a chest) of Sainte Thérèse which contains some relics.
- The Memorial is located in the courtyard of the Chapel : 3 spaces are dedicated to Sainte-Thérèse : a general presentation, her life at the Carmel and a gallery of ex-votos
3- La Maison des Buissonnets
LES BUISSONNETS
22 Chemin des Buissonnets, 14100 Lisieux (10 minutes walk from the city center / 20 minutes from the Basilica).
– Open 7/7, free audio-guided visit (around 1 hour):
Monday-Saturday : 10am-12pm / 2pm-4pm
Sunday : 2pm-4pm
Donations from visitors allow the maintenance of the house and garden.
Thérèse’s family home where she moved from Alençon with her family after her mother’s death and where she spent 11 years before entering the Carmel.
You will discover the history and life of Thérèse and her family and visit the house that remained as when they lived there.
4- Saint-Pierre Cathedral
CATHEDRAL OF LISIEUX
Place François Mitterrand, 14100 Lisieux (right in the city center).
– Open 7/7 all year round : 9am-6:45pm
– Free entrance.
– Masses :
Monday to Friday at 6pm
Saturday at 9am and 6pm
Sunday at 10:30am
- This is the first Gothic cathedral in Normandy built between the end of the 12th centry and the 16th century. A Romanesque cathedral was already there in 1055 which burnt in 1136. It was gradually replaced by the present one.
- A perfect and interesting example of the transition between the Romanesque and Gothic style but also of architectural innovations coming from Ile-de-France. It is often compared to Notre-Dame of Paris because of many similarities.
- Bishop Pierre Cauchon of Lisieux from 1432 to 1442 is buried in the axial Chapel of the Virgin : he is known for having led the trial of Joan of Arc and condemned her to the stake in 1431.
- It was the Parish church of Sainte-Thérèse and her father where she liked to come and pray. Her religious vocation would have been revealed there.
- Next to the Cathedral and behind the Courthouse (actually the former residence of the Bishops of Lisieux), you can stroll in the Garden of the Bishop’s Palace, a very pleasant French-style garden with games for children, fountains, flowers… A pretty green corner in the middle of the city !
The Desmares Manor, 5-7 street Aristide Briand.
Not far from the cathedral, have a look at this manor house which is a typical half-timbered house from the 15th century.
This is a chocolate factory today.
Want to buy good cheese in Lisieux ?
Go to the cheese shop Fromgi
22 avenue Victor Hugo (between the Carmel and Saint-Pierre Cathedral)
Here you will find Norman cheeses but also many other excellent varieties carefully selected by a passionate shopkeeper !
Open from Tuesday to Saturday.
5- Museum of Art and History of Lisieux
38 Boulevard Pasteur, 14100 Lisieux
– Ph : 02 31 62 07 70
– Open Tuesday to Sunday 2pm-6pm
– Closed on January 1st, May 1st and December 24, 25 and 31st.
– Free entrance.
A very interesting museum not to miss if you are in Lisieux even if it’s not right in the town center : only 6 minutes walk from Saint-Pierre Cathedral and 12 minutes from the Carmel.
- Located in a beautiful half-timbered house (one of the last in the city) of the 17th century, you will discover the history of the city chronologically from the origins to today insisting on key periods.
- Nice presentation on several levels. Splendid staircase.
- A rich collection of paintings dating mainly from the 19th century.
- Temporary exhibitions are organized throughout the year.
Close to Lisieux : a wonderful zoo to discover : CERZA.
PARC ZOOLOGIQUE DE CERZA
Départementale 143, 14100 Herminal les Vaux (10 km / 6,20 miles from Lisieux).
– Website HERE.
– Open from February 1st to November 30 every day.
From 9:30am or 10am until 5:30pm or 6:30pm or 7pm according to the season. Please check online.
– Closed on December and January.
– Rates : adult : 24 euros ; kid 3-11 : 16 euros ; free – 2 y.o
I advise you to plan a whole day to visit the zoo.
- An exceptional zoo where more than 1,500 wild animals from 5 continents live in semi-freedom in natural conditions in a park of 78 hectares.
- The well-being of animals is a priority at CERZA.
- The visit consists of 2 pesdestrian routes to discover different animals from all continents. Plan at least 1hr to 1hr30min for each circuit.
- Also included in ticket fare :
– a safari train to observe animals in their natural element,
– and a 3D cinema which presents an ecological fable to raise awareness of the fragility of biodiversity.
- Every day and at fixed times, you can also see the zoo workers feeding some animals.
- The zoo also proposes 26 eco-lodges and 10 safari tents if you want to stay to sleep among the animals for a night or more !
- Several restaurants/snacks scattered in the zoo but I advise you to bring a picnic as they are very crowded during the high season.
