Rocamadour
Rocamadour is on the eastern edge of the area, across the border from the Dordogne into the Lot department. Rocamadour, in the Parc Naturel Régional des Causses du Quercy, receives more than a million visitors - tourists and pilgrims - each year. And has a population of 600.
Although the history of the village dates back to prehistoric times, it is as a medieval pilgrimage destination that Rocamadour is best known, with the first church here being constructed in the middle of the 12th century.
In 1166 the preserved body of a hermit, reputed to be Saint Amadour, was discovered. St Amadour is reputed to be Zaccheus, the inn keeper who climbed the tree to see Jesus and whose wife St Veronica wiped the face of Jesus with a handherchief whilst he carried the cross. After the death of his wife Zaccheus came to Rocamadour as a hermit. He built a sancuary in the rock and locals called him Amator -’the lover’ for his devotion. And so Rocamadour was named after the rock of Amator. Within a few years of a body being found (which was perhaps his) numerous miraculous healings were attributed to the saintly remains. Pilgrims started arriving - and kept arriving!
The Black Madonna, though, was the main attraction for the pilgrims and the town grew wealthy under the important patronage of kings and nobles of the time. Henry II of England was one of the first to come and donate a lot of treasure. The hospitals and churches, and the village of Rocamadour itself, grew to cope with the influx of pilgrims, as did the 'grand staircase' which pilgrims climbed on their knees to reach the village.
By the 16th century the number of pilgrims had dwindled, and the Wars of Religion had caused great damage to the village, and it was not until the 19th century that the Rocamadour we see now took shape.
Places to visit in Rocamadour
Rocamadour, though small, is amazing for its location, it is built on the edge of a cliff, with the river Alzou below at the bottom of the gorge. Many of the buildings are cut into the rock.
On entering the village of Rocamadour park near the chateau and pay the 2euros to walk around the ramparts to get a view of the village down below. From here walk down the Chemin de Croix, a shady walk down the hillside where you can see the Stations of the Cross as you make your way down. Alternatively there is a lift for those who need it.
At the bottom of the chemin you arrive at the religious centre with its seven sanctuaries. As an ensemble this has a very italianate feel with lots of arches and stone balustrades. The Basilique St Sauveur is the largest of the seven churches and inside one of the walls is the cliff face. It has a wooden gallery at the back which is very similar to those in the Basque region.
The Black Madonna is in the Chapelle Notre Dame. A small chapel in built in gothic style in 1479 after a rock fell into the original sanctuary. The black madonna, is thought to have been carved in the 11th century. Above the door on the outside is the sword of Durandal embedded in the stone.
The Grand Escalier has more than 200 steps and leads down to the village of Rocamadour. Originally pilgrims climbed these steps to the churches on their knees. There are four stone gates in the town. Porte Basse, Porte Hugon, Porte Salmon and Porte Figuier. The village lies along one road and is very pretty with its stone houses, the arched stone gates and view of the gorge above. Admittedly it can be very busy in August and the shops are dedicated to tourists (though there are some interesting little boutiques amongst them), but aim for the quieter months and it is still well worth a visit.
See more pictures of Rocamadour
(Note: some photos kindly contributed by Niall O'Neill)
Visit Rocamadour (Midi-Pyrenees, Lot) travel, gites and hotels
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Places to visit near Rocamadour, France
Explore places of interest within about 70 kilometres on a map at places near Rocamadour.
Some places to visit within 30 km: 
23 km: Autoire (Most beautiful village) 31 km: Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne (Riverside village) 18 km: Carennac (Most beautiful village) 27 km: Curemonte (Most beautiful village) 26 km: Gourdon (Lot) (Recommended stopover town) 12 km: Gramat (Town near Rocamadour) 22 km: Loubressac (Most beautiful village) 15 km: Martel (attractive small town) 19 km: Souillac (Abbey town)
See also Rocamadour (version Francais)
