What to do and where to go out in Rocamadour

Rocamadour's tourist train offers visits of the town with historical commentary, making it an ideal way to discover the beautiful sites of Rocamadour by day or by night. You are sure to be won over by the superb view of the illuminated hillside town. This medieval city steeped in history reveals a host of treasures to visitors. One of France's top tourist sites, Rocamadour surprises and charms visitors with its exceptional location on the cliff side, overlooking the Alzou valley.

Rocamadour, also known as the "citadel of faith", has been an important pilgrimage site for several centuries and still charms tourists today. Stroll down the picturesque lanes in the medieval town and admire the many period buildings that can be found just a few minutes' walk away from the Hotel du Château: the Saint-Sauveur basilica and the Saint-Amadour crypt (both World Heritage sites), as well as the chapels, including the Notre-Dame chapel, home to the statue of the Black Virgin. Climb the 216 steps of the famous pilgrims' staircase to reach this treasure of French heritage. 

Rocamadour, a land of belief and faith since the 12^th century, when it welcomed one of the four main pilgrimages of medieval Christianity. Today, the town again attracts large numbers of pilgrims each year, who come to honour the Black Virgin in Rocamadour's Notre-Dame sanctuary, especially as the town is located on the Way of St. James.

Discover our valleys with hiking :

• Le Moulin du Saut
• The Gouffre de Cabouy

The Rocamadour's tourist train offers visits around the town with historical commentary, the ideal way to discover the beauty of Rocamadour by night. You are sure to admire the superb view offered by this illuminated hillside town. 

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Rocamadour and the surrounding area make an ideal destination for family holidays. This charming village located in the Causses du Quercy Regional Natural Park boasts a large number of activities to delight young and old alike.

At just a few minutes' walk away from the Hotel du Château, the Rocher des Aigles Ecopark  offers visitors a falconry display in the exceptional medieval setting of Rocamadour, during which you will discover over 60 different breeds of birds and admire the free-flying bird-of-prey show.

The Forêt des Singes Monkey Park, situated at 1.5 kilometres from our hotel, stretches over 20 hectares and will allow you to observe over 130 Barbary apes along signposted paths in the heart of the lush Dordogne natural countryside. The site offers all the necessary facilities to allow families to spend an enjoyable day out together.

The Gramat animal park, which is a 20-minute drive away, is also bound to be a huge family hit: this zoo is home to over 1,000 wild and domestic animals in the Causses du Quercy Regional Natural Park.

Treat yourself to an original day out at Reptiland. Just 25 minutes from the Hotel du Château, this animal park is dedicated to snakes, crocodiles and other reptiles. Here, you will discover the largest collection of venomous reptiles in France: thrills and chills are guaranteed for the whole family!

Rocamadour and the Dordogne valley are heaven on earth for epicureans. The Lot department, a land of fine cuisine, produces delicious and noble dishes for which the region is so renowned: foie gras, Quercy lamb and duck confit, accompanied by boletus mushrooms, asparagus and the famous luxury truffles.

A meal in our region would not be complete withouttrying theRocamadour"AOC" unpasteurised goat's cheese, famous around the world for its unique taste.

Make sure you visit the region's markets where you can discover, taste and appreciate these regional products that are sure to tempt your taste buds.

There are many such markets to choose from at just a few kilometres from the Hotel du Château, and their brightly coloured, mouthwatering stands will be a treat for our most gourmet guests!

The various markets near Rocamadour:

• Cahors: Covered market – every day except Mondays; Place Chapou – Wednesday and Saturday mornings;
• Gramat: Tuesday and Friday mornings (covered market);
• Lacave: Tuesday and Thursday mornings;
• Marcilhac-sur-Célé: Tuesday and Sunday mornings;
• Saint-Céré: Saturday and Sunday mornings;
• Sarlat: Wednesday and Saturday mornings;
• Saint-Cirq-Lapopie: Wednesday mornings;
• Souillac: Friday mornings.

This region is known for its many caves and chasms, which are all worth a visit. Step several tens of thousands of years back in time thanks to the prehistoric caves, or dive into the centre of the earth thanks to the chasms and underground caves. You are guaranteed a visit out of the ordinary!

The Gouffre de Padirac is the most visited underground tourist site in France and the biggest chasm in Europe. Located just 17 km from our hotel, it is 103 metres deep, with a diameter of 35 metres and opens up to a network of 40 km of underground rivers and lakes. It is a must-visit site for those staying in the Lot department. On foot, and then by boat, you will be amazed by the beauty of the unique lights reflected off the water and the stalactite walls surrounding you.
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The Grotte des Merveilles  in Rocamadour is located just 1 km from our hotel. Guests will be able to walk to the prehistoric site, which is a listed historical monument, and where you can see 25,000-year-old rock paintings.

At 10 kilometres from Rocamadour, the Grottes de Lacave site offers visitors a 1.6 km underground track through several rooms in which you can admire immense spaces decorated with stalactites, expansive lakes and unique colour shows.

You can discover the Grottes de Presque in Saint-Médard-de-Presque: at just around twenty kilometres away, you can plunge into these caves and admire their unusual stalactite ceilings, the lake and the impressive pillars.

Some caves in the Lot department allow visitors to discover prehistoric works of art, such as the Grottes de Cougnac (25 km away from Rocamadour) and the Grotte du Pech-Merle (50 km away from Rocamadour), which are both listed historical monuments with carefully preserved prehistoric wall paintings.

The Dordogne region and the Lot department offer visitors a number of villages that are classed among the most beautiful in France. Family holidays and touristic stays at the Hotel du Château will be the ideal opportunity to discover the charm of these typical picturesque villages, steeped in the region's history. Admire the Renaissance houses and the Carennac priory; let yourself be won over by the village of Autoire located in a crater; enjoy the view over the Dordogne valley offered by the headland in the village of Loubressac with its medieval houses; and visit the Château de Turenne and its medieval ruins.

You can also take advantage of your stay at the Hotel du Château to discover Sarlat-la-Canéda located 50 km from Rocamadour. Situated in the Dordogne department and the capital of Black Périgord, Sarlat is a town of art and history renowned for the beauty of its historical buildings dating back to medieval times, its picturesque lanes, its private mansions, the Saint-Sacerdos cathedral and more. Your visit would not be complete without a trip to the Sarlat market to taste its prestigious local produce: foie gras, duck confits and breasts, walnuts, truffles, figs, chestnuts and more.

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At 20 km from Rocamadour, the Sainte-Marie church in Souillac is a listed historical monument. With Byzantine-inspired Roman architecture dating back to the 7^th century, it is a must-visit site for architecture and culture enthusiasts.

At 45 km from Rocamadour, Figeac is a town of art and history with a host of treasures to discover. At the gateway to the Causses du Quercy Regional Natural Park, the town offers many a pleasant stroll through its picturesque lanes, or while visiting its historical sites, such as its religious buildings, the Champollion museum, the many squares, the bridges on the River Célé and more.

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