Rocamadour, the medieval Lourdes

Rocamadour, about 100 miles north of Toulouse, is a popular destination for pilgrims and tourists alike. This spectacular natural and religious site perched high on a rocky plateau receives 1.5 million visitors each year.

For pilgrims, Rocamadour's importance lies in the Shrine of Our Lady of Rocamadour, a complex of religious structures centered around a miraculous statue of the Virgin Mary and the tomb of a saint from long ago. Tourists come to Rocamadour for its religious interest, historical significance, beautiful architecture, and most of all, for the spectacular views.

According to legend, Rocamadour was the home of an early Christian hermit named Zaccheus of Jericho. It is believed that he died in about 70 AD and had conversed with Jesus himself. According to some accounts, this Zaccheus was the husband of Saint Veronica, who wiped the face of Jesus as he climbed to Calvary.

At some point after the hermit's death and burial in Rocamadour, the site became a place of pilgrimage. Some claim the town was named for the hermit, a "lover of rock" (roc amator).

Zaccheus is said to have brought a statue of the Black Madonna with him to Rocamadour, though the statue is generally dated to the 9th century. With the double attraction of the tomb of Zaccheus and the statue, pilgrims began to flock to Rocamadour. Many reported experiencing miraculous healings and conversions at the shrine.

Then, as today, 216 steps lead to the top of the rocky plateau on which the Chapel of Our Lady is located. As an act of penance, pilgrims would regularly make the entire climb on their knees. The shrine eventually became so famous that kings and bishops began granting special privileges to those who made the pilgrimage. Many notable people visited Rocamadour over the years, including Saint Bernard, Saint Dominic, Saint Louis and possibly even Charlemagne, on his way to battle the Moors in Spain.

Adapted from: Sacred Destinations