Page 68 - DK Eyewitness Travel Guides - The World's Must-See Places

66 EUROPE Rocamadour

Pilgrims have flocked to Rocamadour since the
discovery in 1166 of an ancient grave and sepulcher
containing an undecayed body, said to be that of the
early Christian hermit St. Amadour. King Louis IX,
St. Bernard, and St. Dominic were among many
who visited the site as a spate of miracles
were heralded, it is claimed, by the bell
above the Black Virgin and Child in the
Chapel of Notre-Dame. Although the town
suffered with the decline of pilgrimages in the
A Stations of the Cross
Pilgrims encounter the Cross of Jerusalem 17th and 18th centuries, it was heavily restored in
and 14 stations marking Jesus' journey to the 19th century. Still a holy shrine, as well as a
the cross on their way up the hillside to
the chateau. popular tourist destination, the site above the Alzou
valley is phenomenal. The best views of the town
can be had from the hamlet of L'Hospitalet.

Chapel of St. Michael
Well-preserved 12th-
century frescoes can be
seen on the exterior of this
THE SPORTELL
chapel, which is sheltered
Crafted in either lead, bronze, tin, silver by an overhanging rock.
or gold, the Sportell was a medallion
bearing an image of the Virgin Mary and
Child that was carried by pilgrims who had
visited Rocamadour. During the Middle
Ages, it was often worn as an amulet,
sewn onto a hat or coat, and served as a Tomb of St. Amadour
pass to cross certain war-torn regions. The body of the hermit
A Roca madour Town from whom the tovvn
Now a pedestrian precinct, the took its name (Rock of
town's main street is lined with Amadour) was once held
souvenir shops to tempt the in this sma II sane tuary
throngs of pilgrims and visitors.
beneath the basilica.
~Grand Stairway
~ General View
Rocamadour is at its most breathtaking
in the sunlight of early morning: the
cluster of medieval houses, towers, and
battlements seems to sprout from the
base of the cliff.

Museum of
Sacred Art

A Chapel of Notre-Dame
~;;;!;~ Grand Stairway - -=---::---:-----;7-'-'t-.Jlll....__
KEY DATES Pilgrims would eli mb this
broad flight of steps on
1166 1172 1193-1::117 1479 1562 1858-72
their knees as they said
their rosaries. The stairway
The preserved body The Book of Mracles More than 3 0,000 The Chapel of Notre- Rocamadour's chapel; Rocamadour's
of Zaccheus, later is drafted, with the pilgrims flock to Dame (Miracles are plundered by restoration is leads to the church square
renamed St. Amadour, testimonies of miracles the religious site. Chapel) is constructed. Protestants. supervised by abbot on the next level, around
is discovered. granted to pilgrims. Jean-Baptiste Chevalt. which seven main pilgrim
chapels are grouped.