Vanilla Granola In Rocamadour, France

The medieval village of Rocamadour clings precariously to the cliffs overlooking the Alzou river in France’s Dordogne region. The crest of the cliff is occupied by two great buildings: a fortress castle built to repel invaders, and the Basilica of Saint-Saveur, which attracted thousands of pilgrims during the Middle Ages.

To reach the chapel you have to walk up a steep staircase that penitents in past centuries ascended on their knees. Fortunately for the less dedicated, or the less athletic, there are now a set of elevators that carry you up.

Today, tourists far outnumber pilgrims, for Rocamadour is among the most visited sites in France.

Next to the basilica is the Notre Dame chapel that holds the statue of the Black Madonna, a 12th century figure carved out of walnut wood that the faithful believe can heal miraculously.

The ascent to the top is well worth the ride for the views from the ramparts of the castle are truly spectacular. Standing there you feel like one of the falcons that nest in the surrounding cliffs.

Deep under the basilica is the church of Saint Amadour, a legendary figure for whom Rocamadour is said to have been named. His relics were discovered here in the twelfth century and the church built to house them became a regular stop for pilgrims on the route to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

The cliffs have been occupied by humans long before the medieval town was built, and there are still 20,000 year old paintings in some of the caves that you can visit.

The village of Rocamadour consists of a single long street that is lined by old stone houses on both sides. There is little room for traffic, so vehicles are not allowed in the village. You can walk down the pedestrian-only road, browse through charming boutiques, and eat in restaurants sitting next to windows overlooking a dizzying drop into the valley below.

The entrances to the village are guarded by stone gateways at both ends of the main street. Once these would have bristled with armed watchmen, but now they are the exquisitely picturesque backdrop for thousands of holiday pictures.

Right in the heart of Rocamadour is the Hotel Beau Site, where we stayed for the night. This historic family run hotel, housed in a 14th century heritage building is brimming with character and old world charm. Their restaurant terrace, overlooking the scenic valley is also well worth a visit both for the food and the views!

We had delicious, French vanilla scented granola for breakfast in Rocamadour. Sprinkled over creamy yogurt and topped with plump berries, it was a wonderful fresh start to our day, energizing us for the steep climb up to the fortress!
Upon returning home, I immediately set about recreating that amazing granola, realizing in the process, that it is endlessly customizable. You can play around with the ingredients, using only those that you like and have at hand.

In my recipe here, I’ve added ground cardamom and cinnamon that pairs wonderfully well with the fragrance of vanilla. I like my granola studded with lots of nuts and seeds but you can, of course, customize it to your preference.
Hydrating the oats with milk might seem like an unusual step but it helps them crisp up properly without burning in the oven, however this step is optional and you can skip it if you want. But don’t skimp on the butter or sugar, they’re necessary to coat the nuts and oats and add a lovely caramel flavour as well.
There are many ways to enjoy this granola - sprinkled over your morning cereal, over yogurt or ice cream, on salads or simply by the handful as a snack!
Here are two home made ice creams you can sprinkle granola on and really impress your guests - Mango Kulfi Gelato and Saffron Rosewater Ice Cream