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
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Ides of March
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A magnificent monolith
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A spectacle unlike any other
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World Sea Turtle Day
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Big Bend National Park anniversary
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Keep shining
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The persistence of Perito Moreno
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Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
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How lovely are your branches
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The natural ice wall of Misotsuchi, Chichibu, Japan
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Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
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What s cuter than nuzzling rhinos?
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Have fun storming the castle
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National Bison Day
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A midsummer twilight s dream
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Formal garden at Château de Villandry, Loire Valley, France
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International Roller Coaster Day
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An emerald isle of the Emerald Isle
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Stompin’ with the Big Chief
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Asteroid Day
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A house of grand scale(s)
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Chicagohenge
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World Bicycle Day
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St. Paul Winter Carnival
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Listening to the sea
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Dark Sky Week
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A star blows a bubble
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A medieval celebration in the Mediterranean
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Waiting for winter
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Avalanche Lake Trail at Adirondack High Peaks, New York