As many of you know, I was once a cycle tour guide in Europe (which was the genesis of this blog). The company where I worked for all those years, Blue Marble Travel, has shaped my life in countless ways. This week, I am back in France, riding one of those Blue Marble routes, but not as a guide; this time I am riding solo.

Rocamadour is incredible. I have now visited the town on multiple occasions and each time I have wandered the town, mouth agape, amazed. The town was essentially built vertically into a massive cliff atop of which was an ancient chapel where Saint Amadour was found buried.

His remains were accredited with countless miracles and the town was built to both accommodate pilgrimages and to protect inhabitants. During the Wars of Religion in the 16th Century, the town was conquered by the Protestants and after sacking the city (and trying to light the remains of Saint Amadour on fire), left the town largely in ruins.

A restoration of sorts by the bishops of Tulle in the 19th century, put the town back on the map and pilgrimages to Rocamadour began anew. The town has once again become a major tourist destination; it is the third most visited town in France, after Paris and Mont Saint Michel.

This time, after a rather tough ride (at least for me) I took the town’s elevators to the top of the cliff and visited the Châteaux. Then I meandered down the hill, to the Sanctuary and, eventually, the medieval town and my hotel.

The view of Rocamadour from l”Hospitalet.

The Chateaux clock tower.

The courtyard of the Châteaux.

A view of the Medieval Village from the Châteaux.

The main Châteaux building.

Coming down the Chemin de Croix, there is this arcade built into the cliff.

The Sanctuary’s Basilica from above.

The Sanctuary’s Chapel.

Like many buildings in Rocamadour, part of the Sanctuary is built into the cliff face.

The Basilica from below.

One of the five remaining “portes” into Rocamadour.

The Grand Escalier from above…

…and below.

I felt both dinner and wine were well earned.