Rocamadour, Lot, France

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A vertical village. Resting up in Rocamadour

Gazing down the lush Alzou river valley at the vertical village of Rocamadour, you won't be surprised to hear that this medieval French town is a holy site. The gorges of south-west France are home to numerous beautiful historic hamlets built along and on top of their steep rocky walls. But Rocamadour is special, as it is a stop for thousands of pilgrims on the Way of Saint James, part of a Unesco-recognised traditional route through France and Spain that attracts both religious and secular travellers - the Camino de Santiago. The town's cliff-top sanctuary and the black-painted Madonna statue are said to have healing powers. On a more down-to-earth note, the village is also known for the delicious, locally crafted goats' cheese to which it lends its name.