What to see in Lisieux in one day

Morning: the Basilica of Saint Thérèse

Start with the Basilica of Saint Thérèse, on its hill south-east of the centre. In the morning, light comes through the stained glass and the nave is quieter. Allow an hour and a half.

• The upper basilica: the great apse mosaic, the dome and the relics of Saint Thérèse in the transept.
• The crypt: often thought as beautiful as the basilica, covered in marble and golden mosaics. It holds the reliquary of Louis and Zélie Martin, Thérèse's parents.
• Optional: the climb up the dome, when it is open, and the diorama, a wax museum telling the life of Thérèse in life-size scenes.

To learn more about the decoration, read our article on the mosaics and stained glass of the basilica.

The Carmel chapel

Walk back down towards the centre to the Carmel, on rue du Carmel. This is where Thérèse lived from the age of 15 until her death, from 1888 to 1897. The monastery is still home to a community of Carmelite nuns and is not open to visitors.

The chapel is open to the public. It holds the shrine with the recumbent statue of the saint and part of her relics. In the courtyard, a small museum, the Memorial, presents her life at the Carmel and objects she used.

Les Buissonnets, the Martin family home

A few minutes' walk away, Les Buissonnets is the house the Martin family moved into in November 1877, after the death of Thérèse's mother. Thérèse lived there until she entered the Carmel.

The house has kept the feel of the period: you can see her bedroom, the family dining room and personal belongings, with an audio guide in each room. In the garden, a statue shows Thérèse asking her father for permission to enter the Carmel.

Afternoon: Saint-Pierre Cathedral and the Bishop's Garden

After lunch, head to the heart of the old town. Saint-Pierre Cathedral is one of the oldest Gothic cathedrals in Normandy. It survived the bombing of 1944. It was the Martin family's parish church, and you can still see the chapel where Thérèse came to pray. Bishop Pierre Cauchon, judge of Joan of Arc, is buried here.

Just behind it, the Bishop's Garden (Jardin de l'Évêché) is a formal French garden with flower beds and clipped yews: the perfect break. If you have time, the Art and History Museum, in a timber-framed house, tells the story of the town. Then stroll through the streets of half-timbered houses.

If you stay longer

• Château de Saint-Germain-de-Livet, a few kilometres away, with its chequerboard of glazed bricks and stone, typical of the Pays d'Auge.
• CERZA zoo, right next to Lisieux, for a family outing.
• The cheese and cider route: Livarot and Pont-l'Évêque are less than half an hour away, with their cheeses and cider and calvados makers.
• The coast: Deauville, Trouville and Honfleur are about 40 minutes by car.

Practical information

• Getting there: Lisieux is about two hours from Paris, by car on the A13 or by train from Paris Saint-Lazare. The basilica is about 15 minutes' walk from the station.
• Admission: the basilica, the Carmel chapel and the cathedral are free. Some visits (dome, diorama, Les Buissonnets) may charge a fee.
• When to go: in late September and early October, the feast of Saint Thérèse draws many pilgrims. The rest of the year, on weekdays, the visit is quieter.
• Opening times: they vary with the seasons. Check them before you go on the official website of the Sanctuary and on the Lisieux tourist office website.

Frequently asked questions

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