Things To Do In Rocamadour & How Not To Tire Yourself While Doing It

Best Time To Visit Rocamadour

Shoulder Season

May - June: The best time to visit Rocamadour is during the shoulder season. That is between May - June. This is where you tend to have good weather (you could get a few showers but you can't really predict that), the temperatures are warm but not too warm which is perfect for wandering around the historical site.

September: September also brings in cooler weather and is still dry. It is also the start of the school year here in Europe so the crowds have dissipated. This means that the crowds aren't there and things become much cheaper.

Offseason

Another option is to head here in the offseason that spans from October to March. Though October could also be considered shoulder season. It really depends on what the weather is like in the month. Prices are normally lower, the streets are much emptier and it is a whole different experience from summer.

When Not To Visit Rocamadour (If you can help it!)

Generally speaking most of the tourists head to Rocamadour in the summer vacations which is why July and August are the busiest months. We had no leeway in choosing the dates because we were traveling during the school vacation which is why we visited it in the first week of July.

The downside to visiting at this time of the year is the crowds and the heatwaves that France suffers through. The heat is unbearable and while there are some shaded areas, you can't really escape from the scorching sun all the time. It drains you and takes a lot of the joy out of the experience. If you do visit in these months, aim for the early morning hours.

Parking In Rocamadour

Generally speaking if you are headed to Rocamadour by car then consider checking out the different parking spots available just before you go.

Parking P2

We choose the P2 parking because of the heat. We started off from here at 9 am and visited the Ramparts du Chateau just as it opened. We got to see the city from above without any crowds and for a little while we were the only ones there.

You can then take an easy walk down through a shaded path till you reach the Cité Sainte de Rocamadour. Its then an easy walk through the city. Then take the elevator up so you don't have to climb in the heat.

Parking here is charged but it is a secure parking lot and you will find that there are loads of places which are vacant through the day.

Other Parking Spots

Parking P1 and Parking P3 are further away and require a walk. These are great when the weather is milder and you want the whole Camino Santiago experience without walking for days.

There are also parking spots closer to the city but they tend to have more limited space compared to the bigger parking lots. You do have to walk less so it is worth a try.

Where To Stay In Rocamadour

Hotel Beau Site - Luxury, In The Medieval Town

The Hotel Beau Site is one of the nicest places if you want to stay in the Rocamadour and don't mind spending a bit. With an amazing view of the either the terrace or valley, you will find that there are different options when choosing your room. It is also located right in the middle of the city so you exit right into a medieval town.

The other is a more typical bistro and has plenty of choices. People choose to enjoy a cocktail or drink here. Its a nice set up. We enjoyed spending some time here too. It is very laid back.

Relais Amadourien - Mid Range

Relais Amadourien is one of the other luxury hotels that is located in the heart of Rocamadour. It is just not in the medieval city and rather above it. In my opinion, this is a far better spot because you have the quiet of nature around you and the astonishing views of the city below. The touristic sites are all walking distance away.

"One of the best two star hotels I’ve stayed at. Great value, great location, totally new and clean, welcoming staff. Free parking, good value breakfast. Next to nice restaurant."

Uri (read more reviews now!)

The rooms are nice and airy. The big bonus is the garden that guests get to enjoy. That's something you don't really get in the medieval center. That being said, there are very few hotels that are located close to the attractions, so its best to book in advance if you want to stay so close.

Things To Do In Rocamadour

You will find that you can breeze through the things to do in Rocamadour or you can choose to slow down and savor your surroundings. The medieval city is full of history and things to see. Many tourists head here on a day trip. They spend about two hours in the city and leave. These are generally the people who head here on tours. Its because it is easy to combine Rocamadour with other attractions in the area.

We however chose to slow down and really experience the city. We moved slowly through each of the things to do in Rocamadour. If the heat hadn't bothered us so much, we probably would have spent the whole day instead of moving on.

Where To Start Your Trip

As I mentioned before, we started our trip at the Parking P2 and went downwards walking down the easy trail. You could also start off from one of the lower parking spots and walk upwards.

1. Ramparts du Chateau (Ramparts of the City)

Most people talk about the Cité Sainte de Rocamadour and while it is impressive, I personally loved the Ramparts of the city. This is one of the things to do in Rocamadour that you can get all to yourself if you head here around 9am. It opens up and you have to pay 2 euros to enter but its so worth it.

You can climb up the ramparts and catch a birds eye view of the city below. The ramparts are remarkably well preserved. It also offers some great opportunities for photographs. The views are breathtaking.

There is no shade here so if the sun is at its zenith, make sure that you take a hat and sunglasses along.

2. Take The Scenic Route

Take the scenic route down. Its a nice wide path that is shaded with trees on all sides. You can see the stations of the cross at various intervals. People were also pushing strollers up and down though I wouldn't use a stroller unless you really needed it. Baby wearing is in a baby carrier is a much better option.

3. Cité Sainte de Rocamadour (Religious City Of Rocamadour)

The main highlight of the things to do in Rocamadour is the Religious city. It is situated in between the medieval city and the ramparts. While you are here please remember that this is an active religious site. There are quite a few things to see here.

• The Basilique Saint Sauveur - The basilica is a large one and is free for anyone to enter. It has a large dome and is very cool inside on the hotter days. You do have to be mindful when religious ceremonies are being conducted.
• The Black Madonna of Rocamadour - Many of the pilgrims that head here every year, come to see the Black Madonna of Rocamadour. The statue is said to be miraculous and has been visited even by kings.
• La Porte Sainte - It is the large door that welcomes pilgrims in. You will see this if you are walking from the lower levels up. If not, make sure you turn around after you've walked down so you can fully appreciate it.
• Le Grand Escalier - The main grand staircase that the pilgrims climbed in their final walk to the basilica.

4. Have A Meal With A View

There are many restaurants in Rocamadour which offer great views. You could choose to have a view from above where you look out at the sprawling countryside or exit the medieval city and get a view of it from below.

Irrespective of what you choose, you will find that this is one of the best things to do in Rocamadour because it makes you pause and take it slow. We sat at Beau Site which is a Michelin star restaurant. We didn't really eat here but instead had a couple of drinks and chilled on the terrasse. It is a great way to watch the city move. The kids colored and we just read our books.

5. Walk The Medieval City

6. Pick A Souvenir (Or Not)

The city is filled with a number of different types of souvenir shops. It is fun to browse through them but many of them are pretty expensive. Souvenirs from Rocamadour that you should consider include

• Magnets, curios, hats etc... The usual souvenir suspects.
• Foie Gras
• Rocamodour cheese
• Pottery
• Leather goods
• Local artisans work

7. Take In The Views

8. Ride The Funicular

The funicular is one of the most useful modes of transport especially on days that the weather is bad. The tickets can be bought for a one way trip or a return journey. It all depends on what you want to do.

I've added it into the list of things to do in Rocamadour because kids love riding a funicular. Its a fun experience to go through the cliff and arrive on the other end.

9. Head To The Panoramic View Point

While we are on the topic of view points, the Panoramic view point is one of the cool things to do in Rocamadour that you should add to your list if you have a car.

10. Visit the Ruines de l'ancien hôpital

Way back in the middle ages, there was a hospital in Rocamadour that was dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. This was to observe the pilgrims that came through the city and to pinpoint any of the ones that had contagious diseases.

Today there are just ruins where the hospital once stood. We did not get a chance to visit the ruins but that was largely by choice. The heat had peaked and wandering around in the hot sun was not really appealing. It remains on my bucketlist for when we go back some day.

11. Grotte Préhistorique des Merveilles

One of the things to do in Rocamadour that most tourists miss, is the Grotte Préhistorique des Merveilles. It translates to 'Prehistoric cave of wonders'. It is a natural cavern that was discovered in 1920 and it was given the title of Historical Monument in 1925 because it has parietal paintings that date back to 25000 years.

The cave is open from April to September. You need to book a time slot in advance. Make sure that you arrive 15 minutes before your tour starts.

12. La Forêt des Singes de Rocamadour

If you have time on your hands and want some additional things to do in Rocamadour to keep you busy, consider La Forêt des Singes de Rocamadour. Its a forest that is dedicated to monkeys. There are a number of different activities that are conducted in the area. There are playgrounds here which should interest the ones that are traveling with kids.

As you can see, there are plenty of things to do in Rocamadour. You could head here as part of a day trip from a neighbouring region or just stay in the area for a couple of days. It's laid back considering how touristy it is.

After being on my radar for years, I'm happy I finally got a chance to visit it. It was as impressive as I thought that it would be. We would have spent so much time here. The heat wave however was something that we couldn't have predicted. Which is something that you should consider when traveling because the heatwaves are getting more frequent in France.

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