Practical guide to Rocamadour

With over a million visitors a year, Rocamadour is one of France's most popular tourist sites. So it's a good idea to plan your visit well in advance. Here's our practical guide to Rocamadour, containing some information that could be very useful to you.

Where can I park in Rocamadour?

Car parks near Rocamadour

Five large pay car parks are available in Rocamadour. P1 (L' Hospitalet), P3 (Les Garennes) and P4 (Le Garroustié) are located on the plateau and are the furthest from the town. P2 (Le Château) is just above the sanctuary next to the Château. P5 (La Vallée) is at the bottom of the Alzou canyon. Campervans, vans and buses may only park on P1, P2 and P4, and camping is prohibited.

Parking in Rocamadour

In the village of Rocamadour, you can park in blue zone spaces (free parking but limited to 20 minutes) or in paid spaces. However, you should be aware that access to the village is restricted to motorised vehicles from 11am to 7pm in summer, when there are many tourists. Access is only possible on presentation of proof of identity.

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Accessibility at Rocamadour

Most of the site is accessible by wheelchair and pushchair. Only the Notre-Dame chapel and the Saint-Sauveur basilica are difficult to access because of the stairs leading up to them. But to get to the rest of the sanctuary, you can :

take the gently sloping Way of the Cross.
take one of the two lifts linking the castle, the shrine and the village. The inclined lift takes you to the Michelet esplanade via the Château car park. Please note that this lift is not open all year round. There is a charge for visitors aged 8 and over. Information on 05 65 33 67 79. The Rocamadour lift provides access to the sanctuary via the village. Information on 05 65 33 62 44.
Take the little train that runs between the Vallée car park and the village. It runs from early April to late September, from 10am or 10.30am to 7.30pm. (Charges apply).

How to visit Rocamadour

Shrine opening times

The shrine is open all year round, but opening and closing times vary according to the season. The best thing to do is visit the shrine's website at www.sanctuairerocamadour.com.

Visiting Rocamadour on your own

Rocamadour can be visited completely independently. There are several options available, depending on where you park your vehicle.

From car parks P1, P3 and P4, follow the pilgrim's path to the village and take the grand staircase up to the sanctuary.
From car park P2, follow the Way of the Cross down to the shrine and then take the main staircase down to the village.
From car park P5, take the little train (or not) into the village and climb the grand staircase to reach the sanctuary.

You should allow several hours for each of the three tours.

Guided tours of Rocamadour

On your own or in a group, you can visit Rocamadour in the company of a guide. Information is available from the Dordogne Valley Tourist Office, Rocamadour office, L'Hospitalet, on 05 65 33 22 00.

Where to picnic in Rocamadour?

Looking for a quiet lunch break in a bucolic setting? You can sit down at one of the picnic areas set out on the five large car parks.

You can also picnic on the Sainte-Véronique esplanade near the Way of the Cross, or next to the Dordogne Valley Tourist Office in the hamlet of L'Hospitalet. Shady lawns await you.

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