Rocamadour Travel Guide

  Rocamadour
by balhannah
 
  • Rocamadour
      Rocamadour
    by balhannah
  • Looking towards Rocamadour
      Looking towards Rocamadour
    by balhannah
  • Rocamadour
      Rocamadour
    by balhannah
  • Chateau Belcastel
      Chateau Belcastel
    by balhannah
  • Chateau Belcastel
      Chateau Belcastel
    by balhannah
 

Pro

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 Religious interest, historical, beautiful architecture, and spectacular views 


Con

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 too crowded after 10am, especially in high season 


In a nutshell

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 Amazing!!!!! 

 

Explore Rocamadour

Things to Do  

View

View, Rocamadour

 black_mimi99 Says:  We can see this spectacular views from other side on the way to Grotte des Merveilles / Merveilles cave. 

Walk Around the streets

Walk Around the streets, Rocamadour

 black_mimi99 Says:  Walking on this medieval street, feeling like not in the religious site, but mostly feeling like on the beach area suchike in Bali-Indonesia, 'cos i can find many souvenirs same like selling in Bali island :)) 

Admiring Around

Admiring Around, Rocamadour

 black_mimi99 Says:  When going up the stairs to the top of chapels, my eyes can't stop to admiring of the architecture that built on the rocky plateau. 

Palais épiscopa

Palais épiscopa, Rocamadour

 black_mimi99 Says:  Completely rebuilt in 1868, the former abbey palace architecture obeys a troubadour style, very popular during the nineteenth century. It is surmounted by a tall tower pepper to Viollet-le-Duc. Inside, the Museum of Sacred Art is home to a Bible of the sixteenth century... 

The Tomb of St. Amadour

The Tomb of St. Amadour, Rocamadour

 black_mimi99 Says:  According to legend, St. Amadour, a witness to the martyrdom of St. Paul and St. Peter, traveled to the location and took up hermitage following his wife's death. The story might be part myth and part history, but the legend, beloved of locals, adds toRocamadour's charm and... 

The Chapel

The Chapel, Rocamadour

 black_mimi99 Says:  Over the ensuing centuries the crypt of St. Amadour and the chapel of the Black Virgin underwent periods of prosperity and decline. In 1562 the chapel was pillaged and burnt by the Protestants, and the body of St. Amadour was destroyed. Reconstruction of the shrine began in... 

Vierge Noires" / Black Virgins

Vierge Noires" / Black Virgins, Rocamadour

 black_mimi99 Says:  Intentionally hundreds of icons of Mary have black faces and hands. In France they are called "Vierge Noires" or Black Virgins. In other countries they are called Black Madonnas.A wooden Black Madonna reputed to have been carved by Saint Amator (Amadour) himself. 

The legendary sword of Roland.

The legendary sword of Roland., Rocamadour

 black_mimi99 Says:  The Chapelle de Notre-Dame is immediately adjacent to the Basilique St-Saveur. Above the door leading to the chapel is an iron sword that, according to legend, belonged to Roland. Inside, the chapel is devoted almost exclusively to the venerated Black Madonna statue. 

Basilica of St-Saveur

Basilica of St-Saveur, Rocamadour

 black_mimi99 Says:  Backed against the cliff, the Basilique St-Sauveur was built in the Romanesque-Gothic style from the 11th to the 13th centuries. It's decorated with paintings and inscriptions recalling visits of celebrated persons, including Philippe the Handsome. 

The sacred site/ Cité Religieuse

The sacred site/ Cité Religieuse, Rocamadour

 black_mimi99 Says:  A cluster of chapels and churches high on a rocky plateau. And to going up I need to climb a stairway of 216 weathered steps. Even today, devout pilgrims make the climb on their knees in penance. Along the way are 14 Stations of the Cross culminating in the Cross of... 

Visit the Tomb of St.-Amadour and Its Surroundings

Visit the Tomb of St.-Amadour and Its Surroundings, Rocamadour

 hquittner Says:  At the back of the balcony off the Parvis, against the steep rock face is the Tomb of St.-Amadour. The body was destroyed during the Religious Wars in 1562 but this is still a venerated site. To the right is an accoladed Renaissance doorway that enters the Chapel of the... 

Hotels  

Le Troubadour

 28 Opinions

Best Western Beau Site Hotel Rocamadour

 1 Review and 46 Opinions  See:=> HOTEL TIP NIce hotel of the former housing of the knight of Malta: Jehan de Valon.... 

Restaurants  

Brasserie of the Hotel Sainte-Marie: A Good "Hotel-Restaurant"
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hquittner 2580 reviews
The View
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The restaurant is mainly sited on the terrace outside of the Hotel Sainte-Marie. The food was of good quality and the price not above what we expected in a tourist trap given the town and the stupendous view while dining on the terrace. It was not high season yet. Maybe they raise the prices later in the season.

Favorite Dish: Local dishes and local wine.

Written May 20, 2009

Address: Terrace off the Pl. Senhals

Website: www.hotel-sainte-marie.fr

Related to:
 Seniors
 Family Travel

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Transportation  

Getting to Rocamadour by Car

Getting to Rocamadour by Car, Rocamadour

 Maria81 Says:  Car is the easiest way to get around Lot, and certainly the easiest way of getting to Rocamadour. It's about 30 minutes off the A20 toll motorway Paris-Toulouse - and it took us about 2 hours in total to drive there from the Toulouse Blagnac airport. Once you get off the... 

Coming By Car

Coming By Car, Rocamadour

 hquittner Says:  We parked our car in the designated area at the top of the gorge next to a church and the ramparts. The road led about 3 km from the town of L'Hospitalet. (We had been staying at Gramat). You are directed to the belvedere from which there are complete views of the valley... 

Local Customs  

Time Travel
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1.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

chbuchie 167 reviews

In the central street , 'rue de la cremerie' , a short text describes the daily life condition in this spot .

Feel free to check out the photo with the french text

Written Nov 6, 2005

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Warnings and Dangers  

CAR PARKING & LITTLE PETIT TRAIN
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2.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

balhannah 7576 reviews
Car's & Petit Train's

We arrived by car at Rocamadour, and what do we find..........
No where to park the car. The narrow street's are full of Car's parked on the roadside, and stretch for quite a long way. We parked the car along with the many others.

What we didn't know then, was there is a large carpark on top of the hill at the Chateau.
Park the car there, then walk down the hill and catch the elevator back up the hill, [or walk]

If you park on the road edge, where we had to, down the bottom of the hill, then you need to walk up the hill to catch the elevator. Not the best for elderly or people with leg problem's!

Another option is the Petit Train that leaves from the valley and takes you to the medieval village. It does a return trip every 15 minutes.
Please check the website for details, as it doesn't begin until 10am, so before that, you will have to walk.

FARE IN 2011/2012 .....Adult 3.50....Child 2 euros a return trip.

Updated Dec 9, 2011

Website: http://www.lepetittrainderocamadour.com/langues.html

Related to:
 Budget Travel
 Road Trip

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Off The Beaten Path  

VISIT PADIRAC

VISIT PADIRAC, Rocamadour

 balhannah Says:  Padirac is a small Village with some famous Cave's. You really need to look at the website to see if you want to go, to me, they look excellent, but once again, was disappointed no photo's are allowed.The village itself is lovely and old, with many interesting building's and... 

CHATEAU BELCASTEL

CHATEAU BELCASTEL, Rocamadour

 balhannah Says:  Located just 12kms away from Rocamadour, is another lovely Chateau, situated on the edge of a high cliff.It is the 11th centruy fortress, Chateau de Belcastel, which was restored in 1970.IT HAS HAD QUITE A LIFE!It all began in the 9th Century, when a Chapel was built by the... 

Favorites  

Grotte Prehistorique des Merveilles

Grotte Prehistorique des Merveilles, Rocamadour

 black_mimi99 Says:  The Merveilles cave (Cave of wonders) contains 20,000 years old (Magdalenien) prehistoric cave paintings, and beautiful stalacttes. And we can't take a picture inside the cave...:( 

Multi-level medieval city, picturesque scenery

Multi-level medieval city, picturesque scenery, Rocamadour

 maandt Says:  Quaint medieval place, with three main levels, picturesque scenery and beautiful illumination at night. 

Comments

Map of Rocamadour