A Visitor's Guide to Rocamadour, Rocamadour, France

Rocamadour is a picturesque village that clings to the side of a cliff overlooking the Alzou River. It has been a renowned Christian pilgrimage site since the Middle-Ages. Both its religious importance and spectacular scenery have qualified Rocamadour as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Grand Site of France (of which there are only 46).

The small town of near 600, located near the Lot/Dordogne border in Southwest France, attracts over 1 million visitors a year. After completing my chores at my nearby farm stay, I arrived in Rocamadour mid-morning on a Friday at the end of May, and it was packed! I can’t imagine what it is like during the peak summer season.

Fortunately, I approached Rocamadour from the east side and parked in P1 – Parking de l-Hospitatlet. In my opinion, this is the best way to approach the cliffside town. The parking lot is a just a few blocks from the visitor center on the right and from a magnificent viewpoint of Rocamadour on the left. Pop in the Visitors’ Center for a brochure, check out the Vestiges Chapelle across the street, and then take in the viewpoint. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).