A city, a cliff, a canyon…and cheese Sep 12, 2020

A city, a cliff, a canyon…and cheese

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.

© Rrrainbow/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Sep 12, 2018A cutting-edge art gallery opens in Paris
Sep 12, 2019Astrotourism at its finest
Sep 12, 2021A grand event
Sep 12, 2022Chestnut-eared aracari in the Pantanal, Brazil
Sep 12, 2023North Sea at sunset, Norddorf, Germany
Sep 12, 2024World Dolphin Day
Sep 12, 2025In the Red Sea for World Dolphin Day

More Desktop Wallpapers:

May 9, 2025International Chameleon Day
Jun 1, 2023World Reef Awareness Day
Mar 19, 2025A black heron canopy feeding in Botswana
May 18, 2021International Museum Day
Mar 20, 2022World Frog Day
Apr 4, 2025National Cherry Blossom Festival, Washington, DC
Dec 9, 2025National Llama Day
Feb 2, 2022Groundhog Day
Aug 6, 2019Storks ready for takeoff
May 30, 2022Memorial Day
May 27, 2020Clouds over the River of Grass
Nov 5, 2018Ludwig’s palace
Dec 9, 2018There’s treasure in them thar hills
Feb 26, 2021Lighting the way to new beginnings
Dec 30, 2020Winter in the Wild West
Oct 19, 2025Apples ready for harvest in Minnesota
Jul 18, 2025Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida
Feb 26, 2023Tambopata National Reserve, Peru
Dec 28, 2025Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act of 1973
Apr 25, 2020Rockin with the rockhoppers
Jun 8, 2022World Oceans Day
Jul 1, 2019It’s Canada’s national day
Mar 6, 2020Hello, harbinger of spring
Apr 23, 2021A house of grand scale(s)
Jun 22, 2023World Rainforest Day
Aug 20, 2018Looking back at Yellowstone, 30 years after the fires
Aug 20, 2022World Honey Bee Day
Sep 17, 2022Oktoberfest
Nov 11, 2018Poppies for Armistice Day
Dec 26, 2019It s Slovenia s Independence and Unity Day