The fortified castle above Lourdes is one of the town's best secular sights, rising on a rocky outcrop between the sanctuary district and the old streets. Inside, the Musée Pyrénéen uses costumes, tools, models, and domestic objects to explain mountain life across the French Pyrenees.
The ramparts are as important as the museum: from the top, Lourdes reads as a valley town framed by peaks rather than only as a pilgrimage destination. It is a good choice for visitors who want history and views without leaving the centre.