Rocamadour is a town on top of a cliff and the oldest place of religious pilgrimage in France, which still amazes with its breathtaking location. Medieval architects managed to use the natural phenomenon – the 150-meter deep gorge of the Alzou River and built the town on one of its sides, with houses clinging to the rock like swallow nests.
In this rock, at a certain height, an old rusty sword is embedded – according to legend, this is Roland’s sword, which has come down to us from the time of Charlemagne. This place is associated with many other legends.
According to one of them, Rocamadour owes its appearance to the hermit monk Zacheus, the husband of Saint Veronica and a disciple of Christ, who, after the death of his wife, took refuge in the Alzou valley… Hence the name of the town roc amator – “lover of rocks”. The tomb of the monk with miraculous relics was found in 1166. Since then, various miracles have occurred here, and on some religious holidays, up to 30,000 pilgrims gathered.
Since the late 19th century, Rocamadour has become a popular tourist destination. In the town, you can see Organic Art, showcasing the works of a local craftsman who paints whimsical driftwood. In the courtyard of the house where Organic Art is located, there are homemade tables, chairs, benches, and doors made from huge pieces of wood. Children will be interested in visiting the nearby “Monkey Forest” (Foret des Singes), where 150 animals live freely, the “Butterfly Garden”, the “Eagle Rock”, the Railway Museum, and the Museum of Vintage Toy Cars, which features collections of legendary brands (Cadillac, Ferrari, Maserati), as well as airplanes, scooters, and even a flying saucer. The area is also famous for its signature goat cheese, which is simply called – Rocamadour. Climbing up the charming streets to the town center, you can visit souvenir shops with a large but quirky assortment. For example, in one of them called Les Arts de Facade, stylized house numbers, various inscriptions on mailboxes, just figurines, intricate curls, and badges are sold. Next door is a shop with all sorts of bells and chimes and a souvenir shop with miniature copies of ancient weapons.
Continuing up the main street, you find yourself in the “holy territory”, where seven churches are located. The oldest of them is the chapel of Notre-Dame, which houses the famous Black Madonna (a figurine of the Virgin Mary made of walnut wood, blackened by candle soot) and a bell that rang to announce a miracle. Nearby are: the chapel of Saint-Michel, built in the Romanesque style and decorated with 12th-century frescoes; the chapels of Saint-Blaise, Saint-John the Baptist, and the church of Saint-Sover, one of whose walls is replaced by the rock. Here are also the tomb of Saint Amadour and the Cave of Wonders.
A powerful staircase leads to the top of the cliff, to the castle of Rocamadour, winding between 14 intermediate platforms with small chapels. They symbolize the 14 stops made by Christ during his procession to Golgotha. Religious pilgrims ascend the stairs on their knees and pray at each platform. At the top of the stairs stands the Golgotha cross, brought by pilgrims from the Holy Land. From the castle walls, there is a picturesque view of the Alzou valley and the surroundings of the town.
