Rocamadour: discover the sacred town of the Lot
Campsite near Rocamadour in the Lot
The second most visited site in France and close to our campsite in the Lot, the town of Rocamadour welcomes you to the heart of the Gramat limestone plateaux.
The town is built in successive levels on the side of a cliff. It clings above a canyon where a river, the Alzou, flows. Its houses, roofs and churches seem to be part of the rock that falls from the Causse de Gramat.
Rocamadour, a surprising place of pilgrimage with its village
This extraordinary village will transport you back to another time, when people came from far and wide to venerate the Black Madonna. Rocamadour, clinging to its cliffs, offers a breathtaking view at night, a magical "postcard" to experience! 7 shrines open onto the forecourts of the churches. The 233 steps of the grand staircase were traditionally climbed by pilgrims on their knees.
At the top of the Holy Way, the Hospitalet district still has the chapel of the former Saint-Jean hospital, dedicated to welcoming pilgrims. The Grotte des Merveilles hides cave paintings among the calcite concretions, proof of a very ancient human presence.
At the level of the old ramparts (access from the Château car park), the Belvedere offers a breathtaking view of the tiered rooftops.
Attractions and walks in Rocamadour
Rocamadour is a hub of shops, craft workshops and entertainment venues, such as the Forêt des Singes (Monkey Forest) and the Rocher des Aigles (Eagle Rock). At the end of September, during the European hot-air balloon festival, the colourful balloons take to the skies.
On leaving Rocamadour, the Calès road offers spectacular views of the Alzou canyon and the Ouysse gorges, where the Moulin de Cougnaguet, built in the 14th century by Cistercian monks, is sheltered. At the bottom of the 2 valleys, the GR6 trail meets a series of ancient watermills, including the impressive Moulin du Saut, not far from Gramat.
