Rocamadour

One of the most visited sites in France, Rocamadour is a cluster of chapels and churches built on the side of a cliff, high on a rocky plateau on the right bank of the Alzou river, a tributary of the Dordogne.

Rocamadour (from Roca, rock, and St. Amadour) was a dependency of the abbey of Tulle to the north. The main monument is the pilgrimage church of Notre Dame, whose altar contains a wooden Black Madonna supposedly carved by Saint Amadour himself. Its monuments and sanctuary of the Virgin Mary have attracted pilgrims for centuries, including in 1244 Louis IX (Saint Louis), and his mother, Blanche de Castille. A small chapel is dedicated to some of the most important pilgrims.

We started our "pilgrimage" at the bottom. After going through Porte Salmon, one of the 13th century gates, we walked or scooted up the charming cobblestone street. Although a bit bumpy for scooters, that didn't seem to bother the kids. After a lot of steps we reached the various chapels and churches.

At the very top of the mountain is a castle built in the Middle Ages to protect the sanctuary, which we had actually visited the day before on the way back from another site. You can climb all the way up, take an elevator, or reach by road.