Pilgrimage to Rocamadour

If you arrive on the night train at sunrise, you will have plenty of time to wander through the narrow and picturesque streets of Figeac. This beautiful medieval town is rich in history and atmosphere, and you will easily find bakeries already open, some serving fresh breakfast straight from the oven.

From the Figeac train station, head north until reaching the wooded path known as Chemin de la Curie. From here, follow the red-and-white GR6 trail markers as the route alternates between refreshing forest paths and cultivated fields, gradually leading you toward the charming village of L’Oustal Niau.

This is an excellent place to stop for lunch. The village has a bakery selling sandwiches, a restaurant, a pizzeria, and a small square with benches and grassy areas beside the continuation of the trail as it descends back into the forest.

From here, continue on a gentle climb through dense woodland before emerging once again into the peaceful pastoral scenery of farmland and scattered groves. Follow the trail markings onward until you reach La Chapelle Marival, where you will find several accommodation options, including a campsite on the northwest side of town. The village also offers restaurants, grocery shops, and a supermarket.

The walking is easy and highly enjoyable, alternating between small groves and broad open farmland. You are crossing what is known as the Causse de Gramat, a limestone plateau whose karst formations created the dramatic cliffs you will encounter later on, particularly during tomorrow’s stage.

Thanks to this karst landscape, the region is filled with caves, making it a true paradise for speleologists. If you begin the day early and reach Gramat with enough time and energy remaining, it is highly recommended to visit the Gouffre de Padirac, one of the most spectacular cave systems in the world.

Gramat itself offers numerous restaurants, shops for resupplying, and a variety of accommodation options. Those wishing to camp can stay at an organized campsite reached by turning left off the trail at coordinates 44.767610, 1.735538. The campsite lies approximately one kilometer from the town.

It is an especially pleasant day of walking, as for much of the route you will play hide-and-seek with the Alzou River (L'Alzou). At times, the trail follows the river closely through shaded woodland, while at others it climbs high above the valley along cliffs rising nearly 100 meters over the water below.

The undisputed highlight of the day is, of course, your destination: Rocamadour, one of the most picturesque medieval villages in the world. During peak season the village can be crowded with visitors, but in autumn it becomes far quieter and more atmospheric.

Do not miss the climb to the church and palace perched atop the dramatic 152-meter-high cliff. A staircase of 216 steps leads to the sacred complex, which has been an important pilgrimage destination since the 12th century. In medieval times, penitents condemned by the Catholic Church were required to crawl up these stairs on their knees, dressed in coarse burlap sacks and bound with heavy chains around their waists and necks. Saints, nobles, and even kings -  among them Charles IV and Louis XI, known as “the Universal Spider” -  once climbed these same steps.

After exploring the village and tasting the famous local goat cheese that bears its name (see “Good to Know”), you have several options for reaching the Rocamadour-Padirac train station (Gare de Rocamadour-Padirac). You can walk the 4.5 kilometers there in about 50 minutes along a rural path, take bus line 876 or 877 (the last departure is at 19:35 and the journey takes 13 minutes), or take a taxi.