Rocamadour

Never posted. Bought November 1991.

240 BW A travers le Lot
Roc amadour
2 site de France

Rocamadour is an outstanding, even breathtaking, sight and site in the Midi-Pyrénées. Once it was a centre of pilgrimage. It still is, but nowadays the tourists outnumber the pilgrims by a long way.

In the 10th or 11th century a small shrine was built here in honour of the Virgin Mary. Hermits settled nearby and were called "Amoureux" of the Rock. When, in 1162, a perfectly preserved body of one of the hermits was found in a tomb, he was revered as Saint Amadour. Miracles subsequently became associated with the site, hence pilgrimage. Now it receives over 1 million visitors a year. It is a small place - go out of season.