A charming village nestled on top of a cliff-edge in the French countryside has been compared to a town straight out of the popular Game of Thrones series.
Rocamadour is a charming commune located at the heart of the Lot department in southwestern France.
Over the centuries, the village has attracted pilgrims from all over the continent thanks to the presence of the sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary – as well as the gorgeous landscape.
Describing her arrival in Rocamadour, travel writer Amy McPherson said: “Imagine, having just spent four hours hiking through the wilderness and encountering only five humans and three dogs en route, I emerge out of the forest like a wild beast.
“I make my way to the end of the trail. Cross a concrete car park and curve around the cliff top. There, I am greeted by a village that looks like a medieval painting, an apparition from a Games of Thrones film set.”
Classified as one of the most beautiful villages in France, Rocamadour can be reached via a lift or a rather steep staircase that pilgrims used to walk up on their knees.
At the top of the staircase is the ancient palace-fortress of the bishops of Tulle, now transformed into an impressive museum in which ecclesiastical treasures are preserved.
Rocamadour’s centre develops between a maze of narrow streets and ancient buildings that form the lower part of the town from which you access the churchyard where the sanctuary are located.
Also of great interest are the Chapel of Our Lady of Rocamadour and the castle.
The fortress was built between the 13th and 14th centuries, for defensive purposes, a sentry that at the time was considered an impregnable system.
The castle was damaged by time over the centuries and was almost completely restored in the 19th century, maintaining the original structure.
Today visitors can admire the interior and the beautiful garden that hosts a large variety of plants, as well as enjoy suggestive views of the Dordogne valley.
The secular village extends along the main high street, the Rue de la Couronnerie, towards the bottom of the cliff.
Here holidaymakers will find medieval houses and fortified gates as well as many cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops.
The surroundings of the village also offer their share of treasures with the Causse and the valleys of Alzou and Ouysse.
Rocamadour is a stone’s throw away from the renowned Dordogne Valley and boasts good connections to Toulouse and Bergerac.
The small town is served by two regional airports – Brive-Souillac Airport, which is only 17 miles northwest, or Bergerac some 55 miles east.