Rocamadour
Rocamadour has been attracting pilgrims from around the world since the Middle Ages. It is the second most visited tourist attraction in France after Mont-Saint-Michel.
Rocamadour on the Pilgrim Route to Santiago de Compostela
The medieval village is at the heart of the Regional Natural Park des Causses du Quercy. It clings to the side of the cliff 150m above the Vallée de l’Alzou in a beautiful, rugged, unspoilt environment.
The holy village is a dizzy cascade of houses and chapels set against the rock with a château at the top. It attracts a huge number of visitors and pilgrims every year, and is a pilgrimage centre for the Black Madonna, venerated throughout the world. Rocamadour remains an essential stopover on the Pilgrim Route to Santiago de Compostela.
Rocamadour : 7 sanctuaries and a breathtaking view !
Once they have climbed the 216 steps of the Grand Escalier, visitors and pilgrims discover the emblematic heart of the village and the seven sanctuaries of Rocamadour, including the Chapel of Notre-Dame, Saint Sauveur’s Basilica and the Chapel of Saint Michel. The latter along with the Saint-Amadour Crypt are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Chapel of Notre-Dame or Chapel of Miracles houses the famous Black Madonna, a 12th century wooden statue whose colour remains a mystery. Another curiosity in this chapel is the sword Durandal, planted in the rock above the door by Roland after the defeat of Roncevaux. The most intrepid visitors can continue along the Way of the Cross up to the château and admire the amazing view from the top.
Note that lifts run up and down the valley to the top of Rocamadour. There is also a little tourist train every 15 minutes from the car parks in the valley with commentaries in several languages.