„Rocamadour, you are the first Level the ladder to heaven.“ -André Breton-
The pilgrimage site in Rocamadour in France was also a pilgrimage destination for me in 2026. Due to its location in the mountains on a rock, it is also known as the hanging city. My French teacher gave me the tip and introduced me to the place 😉
In the pilgrimage site there is a statue of the Black Mother of God as well as the grave of a hermit.
The penitential route involves climbing the approximately 220 steps to the chapel of the Black Madonna of Rocamadour, namely with the Kneeling!
When I heard that from my French teacher, I thought to myself: Very interesting -> I have to do that too!
The result - the reward of the penance walk is the complete & total remission of sins, according to the conditions of the local priest. The 220 steps of Rocamadour should be climbed with the knees - depending on feasibility & with consideration for possible infirmities.
The panoramic picture of Rocamadour - the hanging city in France.
Close-up of Rocamadour with a view of the church: Notre Dame de Rocamadour.
The first start of the ascent on my knees - I couldn't estimate it (exertion) at that moment. 😊
Bets that ? Dzimi will climb the steps of Rocamadour via knee in 120 minutes instead of 180 minutes? (sob 😉)
The first part (section for me) is done. I imagined it would be much worse from the uncomfortable pain under my knees. Thanks to the light rain, the steps were always cool and the sand was dissolved so that no dry sand could rub on my knees. It went step by step in 10-15 step stages then about 3-5 minutes break (in the rain 😉).
Yeah! The first part of the ascent is done after about 45 minutes. Now I still have about 2/3 to go!
The first turn within the stair climb, then came a flat plateau. It's still raining 😉
The goal is in sight (yay) -> the upper archway. Soon I won't have to endure any more rain under the building with further ascent.
Less rain from now on and I reach the last part of the climb, about 1/3 to go. The difference between a dry step and a wet step is clearly noticeable from the cooling.
Now nothing can stop me from reaching the finish line! 💪
Jetz'at - the last part of the ascent has definitely been reached. Just ‘a Weng‚ to the finish! Now I'm very wet from the rain and my strength is clearly waning from the real exertions. But I'm not going to let the end get away from me! 👍
St. James - Ora pro nobis!
Seven more - seven steps and almost exactly 120 minutes of climbing (including moderate agony) and then I've reached my destination! Yeah! 👍😊👍
The destination is reached! The chapel with the black Madonna of Rocamadour.
Thank God!
This is the look of someone (Dzimi) who climbed the 220 steps of Rocamadour with bare knees. You can see that a burden has fallen from my heart (the indulgence of Rocamadour).
Finally, the first part of the ascent of the Rocamadour steps via the panoramic view from the side.
Thank you God!
The experience is indescribable and will remain in my memory forever! 💪
My (Dzimi's) thoughts while climbing the stairs
After seeing the town of Rocamadour, I immediately thought to myself: I can do that / I want to do that too!
So thought - so done! 😊
Standing before the first climb up the stairs after morning Lauds, I was overcome by a slight feeling of being overwhelmed. Then I thought to myself - ‚I have to try and giving up is not an option at this stage, even if it's raining‘.‘
I thought of the wooden rosary (Jerusalem) which the priest gave me during the conversation as a prayer support in placing my knee on the very first step. I had doubts at that moment whether I would reach the end. - A small step for humanity but a huge step for Dzimi! 😉 From the eighth step of about thirteen of the first section, I got the feeling from my knee: I can do this!
I had to find the right knee positioning technique and continued my adventure (penance walk). There were occasional thoughts of stopping, mainly because of the uncertainty (could my knees take it all)?
After the first third (long flight of stairs), I was sure that it was only a matter of time before I ‚got the hang of it‘. So I continued up the stairs to the end (the paradise of Rocamadour)! 💪
In the last quarter, when I was also totally wet from the rain, my strength waned but then I just thought to myself: „Now comes the freestyle!“ 😉
I saw the last steps of the penitential aisle and a church member stood at the top ready to greet me. On the last three steps, I also meditated on a special intention.
-> Thank God I have a job! 💪
To summarize, I have the ascent much harder and more brutal. It is more one mental Test of patience in contrast to hard physical labor!
I can only recommend the penance walk to everyone and it is doable for everyone!
Thank God - mission accomplished! 😉
The area around Rocamadour and the Dordogne is beautiful. To the north is the prehistoric site of Lascaux, to the east the great Marian pilgrimage site of Lourdes and about 200 km to the west Bordeaux. The train journey from Rocamadour to Perigueux was very scenic. A journey into nature in a completely different world. 😊