Rocamadour

Posted by Jack Tobin at 2/8/2008 3:28 PM and is filed under Our Medieval Villages


A 20 minute drive from Rancho Escargot takes you to the nearly vertical village of Rocamadour which has been visited by pilgrims since the 9th century. In 1166 when the perfectly preserved remains of St. Amadour were discovered under the floor in front of its little Chapelle Notre-Dame, Rocamadour became one of the most important centers for religious pilgrimage in all of Europe. It is said, ‘St. Amadour’ was actually Zacchaeus - a tax collector in Jericho at the time of Christ – who was advised by the Virgin Mary to come to this location in France to live out his remaining years as a hermit.

  
        Rocamadour                       Zacchaeus                                        Chapelle Notre-Dame 

Toward the end of the 12 century, Henri Courtmantel, aka: "Young King Henry", son of King Henry II of England & Eleanor of Aquitaine (and the old brother of Richard the Lionheart),  plundered Rocamadour and stole its most prized relics including; a small statue known as the 'Black Virgin' and Rowland’s famous sword, Durandal. Ultimately, under pressure from King Henry II, he returned these relics to Rocamadour and they can be seen there today.

 

Over the centuries thousands have crawled up the 216 stone steps of Rocamadour's Grand Escalier on their knees to seek forgiveness & cures or even more harshly ... as penance for petty crimes committed.

   (Steve, Bobbi & Martine seeking forgiveness of sins!)

Rocamadour is a must on any itinerary into the Haut-Quercy!

     

à bientôt, Jack

CLICK HERE for Rancho Escargot 2008 reservations and information

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  • 3/2/2008 8:59 PM christine otto wrote:
    We stayed several times at Rancho Escargot We love love it great hosts, great food, great surroundings, and we never had a bad pichet!!!!!!!!! we highly recommend it! love you guys and miss you, the Otto's
    Reply to this
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