Rocamadour

A scenic country road winds to where the ground disappears into an abyss and the village of Rocamadour tumbles down the narrow canyon. From the 12th century onwards Rocamadour was a popular pilgrimage site. There are lots of tourist shops and, thankfully, cafés providing a spot to sit and rest after climbing up and down the staircases. A popular tourist destination, our recommendation is to park in the large car park adjacent to the castle, but if it is full, head for the valley floor and park in one of the grassy car parks. A stairway leads down, from beside the castle to the chapels, houses, and narrow streets that cling precipitously to the rock face, to the little chapels and the large basilica that incorporates the cliff face as one wall of the building. From the 12th century onwards Rocamadour was a popular pilgrimage site. There are lots of tourist shops and, thankfully, cafés providing a spot to sit and rest after climbing up and down the staircases. If steep climbs are not for you, buy a ticket on the elevator that goes up and down the hillside. From Rocamadour you can either travel directly on to the Lot river valley to the south or take a scenic detour of approximately 100 kilometers north to some enchanting and picturesque villages.