Rocamadour

Nestled in a gorge in the Lot region of central France (around an hour south of Brive) is the spectacular village of Rocamadour. Built into the side of a cliff, it was historically divided into three parts: the castle at the top which housed the knights, the sanctuary in the middle which was home to the clerics, and the village below where the laypeople lived.

Our visit starts in the car park next to the chateau at the top, and we work our way down to the sanctuary. The route is marked by the fourteen stations of the cross and also offers great views of the village below.

The sanctuary itself is an impressive cluster of churches and chapels, and is a popular pilgrimage destination.

Among the chapels is one dedicated to Notre Dame de Rugby, featuring a rugby ball ornament by the altar, and match jerseys donated by several teams!

Down in the village, we stroll along a narrow street lined with cafes and shops. This being the low season, many of these are closed, but on the flip side, the village is peaceful with only a handful of other tourists around. Importantly there are a few cafes and one souvenir shop open, so we can grab lunch before heading back up to the car park (thankfully there is an elevator)!