Day 5 – Rocamadour & Truffadou Steam Train
After breakfast this morning, you travel by coach to the
beautiful village of Rocamadour. Along the route, look out for
walnut trees lining the road. Shortly after leaving the small
village of Lacave, you stop to admire the view of the charming
Château de Belcastel perched on a rocky promontory.
UNESCO-listed Rocamadour is a village and site of pilgrimage
cascading down an imposing cliff towards the meandering Alzou river
below. A majestic, historic location, with a mix of rustic medieval
stone houses and impressive religious structures, you have free
time in the morning and over lunch to explore one of France's most
popular tourist destinations. One of the main attractions is the
Sanctuary of Rocamadour, a cluster of seven chapels and churches
halfway up the cliff, where a Black Madonna statue was discovered
in the Middle Ages. Pilgrims used to climb the 216 steps on their
knees - but thankfully you can now pay to use the lift. The statue,
now on display in the Chapel of Notre-Dame, is connected to a
number of miracles and the displays detail various religious myths
and legends. It is an awe-inspiring location with the added benefit
of majestic views across the tree-covered valley.
Along the pretty Rue de la Couronnerie, the village's main
street, you'll find a host of boutiques, cafés, and restaurants
housed in historic buildings.. From Rocamadour, you transfer by
coach across the Dordogne to Martel. Here, you ride on the restored
Truffadou Steam Train, named as it was historically used to
transport truffles from Martel's market. Hugging a cliff face, on
the round trip from Martel to Saint Denis, the charming steam
engine hauls open carriages around the valley and is a fantastic
way to soak up excellent views across the beautiful local
countryside.
You return to Le Bugue in the early evening ready for a
three-course dinner with ¼ litre of wine in the evening.
Please Note - For departures 02/10/2024,
09/10/2024 and 16/10/2024 Days 5 and
6 have swapped, so you will now be at leisure on Day 5 and journey
on the Truffadou Steam Train on Day 6.
Includes