Gazing down the lush Alzou river valley at the vertically-oriented village of Rocamadour, you won"t be surprised some regard the medieval French town as a holy site: Its beauty alone is mystical. The gorges of southwestern France are home to numerous striking historic hamlets built along and atop their steep edges. But Rocamadour is special as a stop for thousands of pilgrims on the Way of Saint James, a UNESCO-recognized traditional route through France and Spain that still draws journeyers both pious and secular. The town"s cliff-top sanctuary and the black-painted Madonna statue within have been purported to have healing powers. If you"re drawn to more earthly sources of good health, though, Rocamadour also lends its name to a delicious, locally crafted goat cheese.
A city, a cliff, a canyon…and cheese
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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Memorial Day
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A dreamy start to the Year of the Pig
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Sunlight sets Iceland s Eyjafjallajökull aglow
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Is that a face in the sand?
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Arbor Day
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Christmas lights in Domaso, Lake Como, Italy
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Happy Birthday, J.R.R. Tolkien!
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Overlooking the Douro
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Welcome to the Alien Egg Hatchery
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Cannes, France, in the spotlight
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Skyscraper Day
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A Portuguese fort takes a star turn
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Knuthöjdsmossen, a nature reserve in Sweden
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The migrating monarchs of Michoacán
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The tale of squirrels like Nutkin
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Sea Otter Awareness Week
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Red fox in the Netherlands
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Whooper swans, Kotoku Pond, Japan
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Jeju Island, South Korea
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The otherworldly red river
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Meandering through Patagonia
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World Space Week
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Borrego Badlands
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Hello, harbinger of spring
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Lunar eclipse
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Hey, who’s in charge here?
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Belted Galloway cows
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Watch your step
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Endangered Species Act
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Waiting for the perfect shot
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

