Cahors is home to the Valentre Bridge, linked to the Devil's Bridge legends, and a large weekly market outside the Cathedral of St. Etienne. Rocamadour, a pilgrimage destination for a thousand years, is precariously perched on the cliffs overlooking the Alzou which is a tributary of the Dordogne River. The drive to Anatole took us thru picturesque farmland with a stop at an "interesting" goat farm.
Countryside on the way from Albi to Cahors.
Looking northeast as we cross into Cahors, France over the Lot River on the 1838 Pont Louis Philippe bridge.
Open display of fish, while obviously on ice, at the Wednesday open air (under tent) town market would give United States food safety inspectors hives but is standard practice in French markets.
View toward the altar of Cahors' Cathedrale Saint-Etienne.
Font just inside the doors of Cahors' Cathedrale Saint-Etienne.
The very crowded open air Wednesday town market in front of Cahors' cathedral.
Wednesday market day in Cahors in front of the Cathedrale Saint-Etienne.
Francois-Mitterrand square in Cahors with fountains in front of the statue of Leon Gambetta who was born in Cahors and was a French statesman prominent during and after the Franco-Prussian War.
Located on the west bank of the Lot River immediately upstream of the Pont Valentre is a cave in the bluff, behind the arched road bed.
The Pont Valentre, built between 1308 and 1378, is a six-span fortified stone arch bridge crossing the Lot River to the west of Cahors.
Francie Stoutamire walking back to the tour bus from the Pont Valentre bridge.
Countryside on the way to Rocamadour.
Notre Dame du Calvaire in the small village of Gramat on the way to Rocamadour.
Rocamadour, a pilgrimage destination for a thousand years, is built into the cliffs overlooking the Alzou which is a tributary of the Dordogne River.
Panorama looking southwest from the overlook in Hospitalet on the road into Rocamadour, a pilgrimage destination for a thousand years.
The early 14th Century Chateau de Rocamadour stands at the top of the cliffs overlooking Rocamadour and protecting it from attack from above.
Looking up at the buildings and churches of Rocamadour from the Rou de la Couronnerie with the Via Sancta (a.k.a. Grand Stairway) ascending from left to right.
Rocamadour is built into the cliff and pretty much has two directions, up and down, as this image looking down the Via Sancta (a.k.a. Grand Stairway) illustrates.
The old Episcopal Palace of Rocamadour, now a museum.
The Place Saint-Amadour, the main town square of Rocamadour.
Francie Stoutamire Photography
