Best of Rocamadour

Rocamadour Essentials

Rocamadour is a vertical medieval pilgrimage site carved into the limestone cliffs of the Alzou canyon. This selection covers the religious heart of the village, including the UNESCO-listed Basilique Saint-Sauveur and the sanctuary housing the Black Madonna. Beyond the sacred shrines, it features the 14th-century ramparts of the upper castle, the prehistoric Grotte des Merveilles, and specialized wildlife parks dedicated to birds of prey and Barbary macaques.

Simon Strueux / CC0

Château de Rocamadour

A 14th-century castle built on the cliff's summit to defend the sanctuary. Visitors can walk the ramparts for panoramic views over the Alzou valley and the medieval village below.

Torsade de Pointes / Public domain

Basilique Saint-Sauveur

A UNESCO World Heritage site and part of the Way of St. James. This 11th-century Romanesque-Gothic basilica is the largest church within the religious complex.

Elliesram13 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Chapelle Notre-Dame de Rocamadour

The spiritual heart of the sanctuary, this chapel houses the famous 12th-century Black Madonna statue and a miraculous bell suspended from the ceiling.

Belvédère du photographe

An observation point located in L'Hospitalet that offers the primary panoramic view of the vertical village clinging to the cliffside.

Le Rocher des aigles

An ecological park featuring free-flight demonstrations of eagles, vultures, and falcons, with a focus on the conservation and breeding of birds of prey.

mphb45 / CC BY 3.0

La forêt des Singes

A 20-hectare forest where approximately 150 Barbary macaques roam freely. Visitors can observe the monkeys in a natural habitat without fences or cages.

Grotte des Merveilles

A prehistoric cave containing natural concretions and Paleolithic rock paintings of horses, deer, and hand stencils dating back over 20,000 years.

Porte du Figuier

One of the original fortified stone gateways providing access to the main medieval street of the village.

Tombeau Saint-Amadou

Located at the entrance of the Chapelle Notre-Dame, this site traditionally held the incorrupt body of the hermit Saint Amadour, discovered in 1166.

Torsade de Pointes / Public domain

Moulin fortifié de Cognaguet

A 14th-century fortified watermill on the Ouysse river. It features original milling machinery and defensive architectural elements designed to protect the Cistercian monks' grain.