Visiting Rocamadour in France - a sacred pilgrimage site

To FREEDOMtravel

Advertisement

Writer: Helena Bergström

Visiting Rocamadour in France is an experience we highly recommend. This sacred village, built in three successive levels, is a historic site with dramatic views.

Tweet

Share

Share

Pin

Share

Share

Rocamadour in France

The holy village of Rocamadour in France not only has a spectacular location. It is also a popular pilgrimage site and an important stop on the Way of St James (Camino de Santiago), a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Rocamadour is located in Occitania, in the southern part of France, about 250 kilometres east of Bordeaux.

History of Rocamadour

Rocamadour was inhabited thousands of years ago, as is known from ancient carvings found in caves. From the 8th century, the Virgin Mary was worshipped, but its fame began with a chance discovery in 1166: a well-preserved body.

Some believed these to be the remains of the disciple Saint James and others thought they were the remains of Saint Amadour - hermit of the caves and founder of the sanctuary of Notre Dame in Rocamadour.

Nevertheless, this contributed to Rocamadour becoming one of the important pillars of Christianity in the Middle Ages, on a par with Jerusalem, Compostela and Rome. A black wooden statue, found next to the body, has been linked to many subsequent miracles. Thousands of pilgrims have travelled here to worship the Black Madonna of Rocamadour, including many kings and queens.

To visit Rocamadour

So, what is it like to visit Rocamadour? This is now a very busy and popular tourist destination, which is reflected in the many car parks, restaurants and shops. We arrived in May and chose to park in "Parking 2", which is the highest car park. From here we visited the village, from top to bottom ...

Chateau de Rocamadour

At the top of the village is the Chateau de Rocamadour, a fortress originally built in the 14th century to protect the shrines and pilgrimage sites. For a fee of €2 per person, you can climb the walls and take in the stunning views of the valley and the Dordogne River.

You can also look down on the small village, which is more or less on a single street.

The road winds downhill ...

From the castle at the top we followed the footpath down, and the first stop was the big crypt that you can check out here.

Sanctuary of Our Lady of Rocamadour

We then arrived at the biggest, and perhaps most sacred, attraction: the Sanctuaire Notre Dame de Romamadour. When pilgrims started flocking to the site in the 12th century, an ambitious church was built against the mountain, with no less than seven chapels.

Capturing the shrine on camera is not easy, but it is undoubtedly a very special place.

Inside the chapels hang several models of ships, which are linked to miracles at sea. From the ceiling, a bell is said to ring every time a miracle occurs ...

We don't hear any bells ringing ourselves, but the place feels like a bit of a miracle in itself, and that's enough for us.

Main street in Rocamadour

Just below the religious buildings, on the lowest slopes, is the main street of Rocamadour. This car-free little village is incredibly charming, and quickly brings to mind the world of fairy tales.

There is a wide range of restaurants, mainly serving duck, foie gras, omelettes, galettes and sandwiches. In the shops you will find clothes, accessories and souvenirs.

Where can you stay or park your motorhome?

Rocamadour is now a popular tourist destination, so there are several different hotels here. There are also caravan parks and campsites around. If you are travelling by motorhome, our best tip is to use apps such as "CamperContact", "Park4Night" or "Camping-Car Park".

More to see in the neighbourhood

The area is full of both caves and mighty castles on cliffs, and it is fascinating just to drive around. We can also highly recommend making a visit to the cave Padirac Abyss, which is both interesting and exciting. Or why not take a trip to the beautiful Chateau de Beynac?

Have you visited Rocamadour?

Would you like to visit Rocamadour in France, or have you already been here? Please tell us!

You might also like:

Visiting Chateau de Beynac in France - a historic gem The Valley of Palaces and Gardens at Jelenia Góra in Poland Visiting Colmar - a picturesque dream in France Visiting Gouffre de Padirac in France - a fascinating cave Teleborg Castle in Växjö - a fairytale castle in Småland Things to do in Kalmar - 17 tips for experiences and attractions