The weather forecast was good, we had no other commitments plus it was day lights savings so we even got to sleep in - all was set for us finally to go to Rocamadour! Ken said it would take us two hours to get there but an hour and a half later we drove around a corner and were treated to this majestic sight.
Rocamadour truly is an architectural feat. There are several towns like this in France that are built on top of cliffs with the houses clinging to the side of the hill and the question I often think is why would the pilgrims choose to build on such difficult sites? It must have been so challenging to build this town. It has always been a tourist destination firstly with the pilgrims coming to see the black madonna and now with people coming for lunch and to have a look. We went on a Sunday and there were a lot of people visiting the sanctuaries to worship and also hoping for healing.
After last weekend we decided to take a packed lunch and have a picnic. We have discovered some excellent gluten free buns which make life a whole lot easier and packed lunches a whole lot nicer. We found a park up by the chateau but discovered that the staircase down to the town was closed. So after lunch at the top we walked down the road to the village - with a great view all the way!
As the main access was closed it was a bit unclear as to where to go when we arrived at the end of the road so we thought we would go through the tunnel - plus there was a sword wielding busker right there so we thought that might be the way in!
We walked through the centuries old tunnel and popped out into the square by the Sanctuaries which are a series of 12th to 14th century chapels.
Sunday worshippers.
From the santctuaries you went down some stairs and through a gate.
Then more stairs before the old city.
It was quite busy as there had just been a church service so we decided to have a look in the chapels on our way back to the car and headed down the grand staircase. There are 216 stairs and legend has it that the deeply religious would climb these on their knees as the last stage of their journey before bowing to the black madonna. Jasper gave it a go on our way back up but only lasted about three steps!
We wandered happily around the township and got a couple of souviners including a gorgeous plate of Rocamadour.
As we had had a picnic lunch we decided to have coffee and an icecream at one of the nice cafes in the old town. We then walked back up the staircase to have a look in the chapels.
These chapels were quite different to anything else we had been into in France, mainly as rather then one big Church there are several small chapels some of which interconnect. The main chapel was made of stone and was quite stunning and then Because of its location the back wall was actually just the cliff face!
The black Madonna
The sanctuaries from the outside.
Walking back to the car.
Have had trouble posting my blog this time as too many photos! The second half of our day will be my next blog.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
No comments:
Post a Comment