Martin M. Miles' photos

Since my first visit, Rocamadour is one of my favourite places. In 2009, when I followed the Via Podensis, I took a detour, to reach Rocamadour by foot, like so many pilgrims since medieval times. Rocamadour attracted pilgrims over centuries and hass a legend, similar to that of Santiago de Compostella . Here in 1166 the grave of St. Veronica´s husband Zacchaeus the Tax Collector (Luke 19) was found. He had moved from Jerusalem to this place in Gaul / France in his older age and lived here as a hermit under the name of Amadour. The medieval pilgrims climbed up the 216 steps to the sanctuary, a cluster of churches and chapels, on their knees. Here is "Notre Dame de Rocamadour" (aka "La Vierge Noire", "Black Madonna of Rocamadour", "Our Lady of Rocamadour"..). Henry Plantagenet (aka "Henry II of England") was an early pilgrim here. Legends tell, that the statue was created by Zacchaeus / Amadour, but it was rather within the 10th or 11th century.

Since my first visit, Rocamadour is one of my favourite places. In 2009, when I followed the Via Podensis, I took a detour, to reach Rocamadour by foot, like so many pilgrims since medieval times. Rocamadour attracted pilgrims over centuries and has a legend, similar to that of Santiago de Compostella . Here in 1166 the grave of St. Veronica´s husband Zacchaeus the Tax Collector (Luke 19) was found. He had moved from Jerusalem to this place in Gaul / France in his older age and lived here as a hermit under the name of Amadour. The best time to "feel" Rocamadour is the evening, when the many day tourists (more than a million per year) are already on their way home and the night falls in.

The "Gouffre de Padirac" ("Padirac Abyss") was created by an underground river, about a hundred meters deep in the karst limestone plateau of "Causses de Gramat". The roof of a high dome-like hollow of this river cave broke in and created a circular hole with vertical walls, about 35 m in diameter and nearly 100 m deep. The shaft was already known in the medieval times and many legends were told about it, the first scientific exploration started in the second half of the 19th century. In 1889 French speleologist Edouard Alfred Martel was down on the ground and found an opening, that led to the underground river. Today about 40kms of the cave system´s galleries are known. 2kms are open for the public. In the 1930s lifts were installed, what made it very easy for the visitors to enter the cave system. Many of the buildings, serving the many visitors, date from the late 1920, as in the 1930s. This wonderful kiosk is in the center of a well maintaines picnic area.

The "Gouffre de Padirac" ("Padirac Abyss") was created by an underground river, about a hundred meters deep in the karst limestone plateau of "Causses de Gramat". The roof of a high dome-like hollow of this river cave broke in and created a circular hole with vertical walls, about 35 m in diameter and nearly 100 m deep. The shaft was already known in the medieval times and many legends were told about it, the first scientific exploration started in the second half of the 19th century. In 1889 French speleologist Edouard Alfred Martel was down on the ground and found an opening, that led to the underground river. Today about 40kms of the cave system´s galleries are known. Tourists arrived since the early 20th century. In the 1930s lifts were installed, what made it very easy for the visitors to enter the cave system. 2kms are open for the public. Small boats bring them to a large domelike hall with gigantic stalagmites and stalagtites.

The "Gouffre de Padirac" ("Padirac Abyss") was created by an underground river, about a hundred meters deep in the karst limestone plateau of "Causses de Gramat". The roof of a high dome-like hollow of this river cave broke in and created a circular hole with vertical walls, about 35 m in diameter and nearly 100 m deep. The shaft was already known in the medieval times and many legends were told about it, the first scientific exploration started in the second half of the 19th century. Tourists arrived since the early 20th century. Many of the buildings here date from the late 1920, as in the 1930s a lift was installed that made it very easy for the visitors to enter the cave system.

In medieval times the church and village belonged to the Abbaye Saint-Pierre in Marcilhac-sur-Célé (25kms east). The fortified church, in the center of the village, is dated to the 15th century, what probably was the time it was rebuilt and got fortified. There are medieval/Romanesque parts, that origine from a previous building. Seen to the right is the "Maison des templiers". Here the Knights Templar supported the pilgrims on their way to Rocamadour (35 kms north).

In medieval times the church and village belonged to the Abbaye Saint-Pierre in Marcilhac-sur-Célé (25kms east). The fortified church, in the center of the village, is dated to the 15th century, what probably was the time it was rebuilt and got fortified. There are medieval/Romanesque parts, that origine from a previous building. The altar has four baroque pillars, the frescoes above crumble.

In medieval times this village belonged to the Abbaye Saint-Pierre in Marcilhac-sur-Célé (25kms east). The fortified church, in the center of the village, is dated to the 15th century, what probably was the time it was rebuilt and got fortified. There are medieval/Romanesque parts, that origine from a previous building.

Chambres et table d'hôtes "Les Rives d'Olt", located in Béars (Arcambal) just oposite of Vers, is a great, qiet and peaceful place to stay. Spacey, cosy rooms - and wonderful, relaxed dinners in the evening. Merci beaucoup Evelyne and Philippe!

Just north of Marcilhac-sur-Célé is the place where cave-divers gather to enter the Emergence du Russel. This is a large cave that starts underwater in the bed of the river Céle. We learned, that the cave is nearly 6kms long. The water stemming from the Emergence du Russel originates from the limestines of Gramat. Some divers have uploaded videos of their underground expeditions. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec6y0IVxBh8

Dams and weirs were built within the 16th century along the Lot river. This was done for the wheels of the many mills and to make the Lot navigable, as upto the 20th century barges transported goods up and down the Lot. These barges were towed (mostly by oxes or horses) and near the village Bouziers the towpath was cut out of the cliff. Today this is a picturesque path used by walkers and bikers.

Dams and weirs were built within the 16th century along the Lot river. This was done for the wheels of the many mills and to make the Lot navigable, as upto the 20th century barges transported goods up and down the Lot. These barges were towed (mostly by oxes or horses) and near the village Bouziers the towpath was cut out of the cliff. Today this is a picturesque path used by walkers and bikers.

Dams and weirs were built within the 16th century along the Lot river. This was done for the wheels of the many mills and to make the Lot navigable, as upto the 20th century barges transported goods up and down the Lot. These barges were towed (mostly by oxes or horses) and near the village Bouziers the towpath was cut out of the cliff. Today this is a picturesque path used by walkers and bikers.

Dams and weirs were built within the 16th century along the Lot river. This was done for the wheels of the many mills and to make the Lot navigable, as upto the 20th century barges transported goods up and down the Lot. These barges were towed (mostly by oxes or horses) and near the village Bouziers the towpath was cut out of the cliff. Today this is a picturesque path used by walkers and bikers.

The "Festival de Carcassonne" is a fantastic months long festival with lots of concerts! It is always a pleasure to spend some nights here during the festival. With Kid Creole & The Coconuts the audience jumped headfirst into the early 1980s. While August Darnell (= "Kid Creole") has reached retiring age, the 70s, the blond Coconuts are (of course) for ever young. But August still has the rythm, the zoot suits and the broad-brimmed hats. He gave us all a "Happy Hour". www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmTioZZxHjo

The "Festival de Carcassonne" is a fantastic months long festival with lots of concerts! It is always a pleasure to spend some nights here during the festival. With Kid Creole & The Coconuts the audience jumped headfirst into the early 1980s. While August Darnell (= "Kid Creole") has reached retiring age, the 70s, the blond Coconuts are (of course) for ever young. But August still has the rythm, the zoot suits and the broad-brimmed hats. He gave us all a "Happy Hour". www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmTioZZxHjo

The "Festival de Carcassonne" is a fantastic months long festival with lots of concerts! It is always a pleasure to spend some nights here during the festival. With Kid Creole & The Coconuts the audience jumped headfirst into the early 1980s. While August Darnell (= "Kid Creole") has reached retiring age, the 70s, the blond Coconuts are (of course) for ever young. But August still has the rythm, the zoot suits and the broad-brimmed hats. He gave us all a "Happy Hour". www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmTioZZxHjo

The "Festival de Carcassonne" is a fantastic months long festival with lots of concerts! It is always a pleasure to spend some nights here during the festival. With Kid Creole & The Coconuts the audience jumped headfirst into the early 1980s. While August Darnell (= "Kid Creole") has reached retiring age, the blond Coconuts are (of course) for ever young. But August still has the rythm, the zoot suit and the broad-brimmed hat. He gave us all a "Happy Hour". www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmTioZZxHjo