Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Cost and Hours:
€6,dailyJuly-Aug9:30-19:00,April-JuneandSept10:00-12:00&
14:00-18:00, Oct until 17:00, closed Nov-March, decent handout available, tel. 05 65 33
67 92,
www.grotte-des-merveilles.com
.
In the Lower Town (La Cité Médiévale)
Rocamadour's town is basically one long street traversing the cliff below the sanctuary.
For eight centuries it has housed, fed, and sold souvenirs to the site's countless visitors.
There's precious little here other than tacky trinket shops, but I enjoy popping into the
Galerie le Vieux Pressoir
(named for its 13th-century walnut millstone). It fills a medi-
eval vaulted room with the fine art of a talented couple: Richard Begyn and Veronique
Guinard.
Of Rocamadour's 11 original
gates,
seven survive (designed to control the pilgrim
crowds). In the 14th century, as many as 20,000 people a day from all over Europe would
converge on this spot. From the western end of town, 223 steps lead up to the church at
the sanctuary level. Traditionally, pilgrims kneel on each and pray an “Ave Maria” to Our
Lady.
Between the Upper and Lower Towns (La Cité Religieuse)
These sights form the heart of your vertical sightseeing. From the
upper town,
descend
the Way of the Cross path, or take the elevator. From the
lower town,
ride the elevator up
or climb the steps (as pilgrims once did), passing a plaque listing key medieval pilgrims,
suchasSt.Bernard,St.Dominique,andSt.Louis(theonlyFrenchkingtobecomeasaint;
he brought the Crown of Thorns to Paris and had Sainte-Chapelle constructed to house
it). Either way, your destination will be signed
Sanctuaires
(free, open daily generally
8:00-19:00).
▲▲▲
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Rocamadour
Stand in the small square with the cliff to your left, and look up to the open door of the
Church of St. Saveur. Though the buildings originated much earlier, most of what you see
was rebuilt in the 19th century. Crammed onto a ledge on a cliff, the church couldn't fol-
low the standard floor plan, so its seven chapels surround the square (called the
parvis
)
rather than the church. The bishop's palace is behind you and to your right, and houses a
gift shop selling various pilgrimage mementos, including modern versions of the medal-
lions that pilgrims prized centuries ago as proof of their visit (about €11 for a tiny one).
The two most historic chapels are to your left on either side of the steps.
• Walk up the flight of steps to the cliff, where a tomb is cut into the rock.
