Rocamadour - pilgrimage village

Hidden in the Lot, Rocamadour has much to offer

Rocamadour clings to the side of the spectacular gorge of the River Alzou, a tributary of the Dordogne. The village’s situation alone makes it worth a visit.

Photo: Rocamadour, pilgrimage village which clings to a cliff

The papal enforcer Simon de Montfort overwintered here on his way to persecute the Cathars further south. However Rocamadour’s main claim to fame is as a pilgrimage site, a staging post on the route to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia.

It boasts no less than seven churches. The Eglise de Saint Sauveur and the Crypte de Saint Amadour are part of the UNESCO World Heritage site, the Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France.

Photo: Even at night, Rocamadour looks spectacular

After Jerusalem was captured by the Caliph Omar in 638, Christians were hesitant about going to the Holy City as pilgrims. Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, where the tomb of the apostle St James the Great had been found around 800, benefited from the decline of Jerusalem as a pilgrimage centre.

Pilgrims’ routes from all over Europe converge in France. Rocamadour offered rest and hospitality to passing pilgrims.

There are a number of restaurants and shops in the village itself. There are more on the rim of the gorge at L’Hospitalet. All around is excellent walking and cycling country on a limestone cause. Many farms offer artisan-made cheese or paté.

A mere 20 minutes’ drive away there’s the Gouffre de Padirac, a cavern which starts with a 103 metre descent by lift or stairs and then offers a boat ride through a magical world of stalactites.

The traditional market town of Gramat is only 10km away with its market hall, authentic shopping streets and restaurants.


Photo: Nearby Gramat has a traditional marketplace

As usual, we include a selection of Pure France homes in the vicinity of Rocamadour

Related links :

• http://www.purefrance.com/19001/self-catering-rental-home.php
• http://www.purefrance.com/24066/self-catering-holiday-home.php
• http://www.purefrance.com/24095/self-catering-rental-country-home.php
• http://www.purefrance.com/46010/self-catering-rental-home.php
• http://www.purefrance.com/24077/holiday-country-home.php
• http://www.purefrance.com/46012/self-catering-rental-country-home.php