Chemin de Croix at Rocamadour visitor guide

Visit Chemin de Croix at Rocamadour, France

The Chemin de Croix is a traditional 'Stations of the Cross' path that leads from the sanctuary in the centre of Rocamadour village to the cross on the hill above. Rocamadour itself is a beautiful village in the countryside of the Lot department of south-west France.

Explore the Rocamadour Chemin de Croix

France This Way review: the Chemin de Croix is an important part of your visit to Rocamadour, and as well as the path and shrines it also gives you a chance to enjoy lovely views of the village

shrine in a cave on the chemin de croix

The path starts at the sanctuary in the centre of Rocamadour, and the centre of religious life in the village in the medieval period. Note that the sanctuary is not in the medieval village centre, there are stairs (or a lift if you prefer) to reach the sanctuary from the village, before you start to climb the Chemin de Croix!

It is not a very difficult climb, but it is possible to take a lift up the hill and then follow the Chemin de Croix down the hill instead, which is probably easier if you have young children with you, or experience mobility difficulties.

From here the path leads up the hill passed the Stations of the Cross. Each station has a statue in a small shrine that shows an event from the final days in the life of Christ, from the time he was condemned to death until His crucifixion, and a small notice that explains the event.

One of the last posts is in a large cave supported by columns that contains a statue of Christ being placed in his tomb, probably the most impressive of the stations but closed to the public, so you have to peer in to the darkness from the entrance!

Most of the path is through trees but there are occasional gaps between the trees from where you have views across Rocamadour.

At the end of the Chemin de Croix you reach the Jerusalem Cross, a large cross with its views across the village of Rocadamour and all along the Alzou valley as well as to the chateau, a short distance along the clifftop from here.

From here, to return to the village, instead of retracing your steps back down the Chemin de Croix we suggest you walk along the clifftop to l'Hospitalet and then down the path that leads back into Rocamadour so that you can take a stroll around l'Hospitalet and also get some pretty views across the historic centre of Rocamadour

shrine and path in woods on the Rocamadour chemin de croix