I am traveling to Spain in September and I will be visiting Madrid and Barcelona,from either
city I would like to go to Lourdes France and then on to Paris.
Question,which way is better going from Madrid to Bayonne then to Lourdes or going from Barcelona to Perpignan then to Lourdes?.
Also it seems cheaper to return to Madrid from Paris to catch a fly back to the USA....any advice or help PLEASE....this is our first time.
Thanks

First, don't cross the border in a bear suit (let's see who catches that reference).

Second, what's "cheaper"? What is the cost to return to Madrid from Paris? If on a train, that will easily eat any cost differential and then some.

And what is your time worth? Paris to Madrid by plane will cost you at least 4 hours in travel time with flights, check-in, etc. By train, it takes 12 hours on the Elipsos trains, with a change. Is this worth $150 fare difference?

Barcelona to Lourdes probably quicker via Perpignan than going from much farther away Madrid via Bayonne. But you can see all the rail connections at www.bahn.de - the German Railways web site with schedules for all of Europe - to get to the English schedule page go to www.budgeteuropetravel.com and click on the link "Best European Railway Timetable" or some such nomenclature on the home page and this brings you to the English schedule page and put in From Madrid to Lourdes and then Barcelona to Lourdes and see which is best. I reference the link on this home page to bahn.de because they also give you several useful tips on fully using the Wunderbar bahn.de that may not be apparent at first encounter. Either way will entail a several hour train trip I suspect.

Second, what's "cheaper"? What is the cost to return to Madrid from Paris? If on a train, that will easily eat any cost differential and then some.>

Not necessarily - check www.elipsos.com for deep discounted tickets on the overnight trains Paris to Madrid - some really good deals that may make it worth returning to Madrid.

Second, what's "cheaper"? What is the cost to return to Madrid from Paris? If on a train, that will easily eat any cost differential and then some.>

Not necessarily - check www.elipsos.com for deep discounted tickets on the overnight trains Paris to Madrid - some really good deals that may make it worth returning to Madrid.

quickest way Madrid or Barcelona to Lourdes?

checking www.bahn.de it is Barcelona - leave there 9am daily get to Loures 16:45 or about 12 hours

from Madrid Chamartin - lvee daily 8am arrive Lourdes 19:05 or about 13 hours

a long slog in either case

investigate flights IMO to Toulouse