Festival of Cheeses and Rocamadour AOP

The Rocamadour AOP, a cheese jewel of Quercy

Nestled in the heart of the Causses du Quercy, the village of Rocamadour is world-renowned for its medieval sanctuary clinging to the cliffside, but also for the small goat cheese that bears its name. Rocamadour AOP, formerly called "cabécou de Rocamadour," is a cheese made from raw, whole goat's milk, recognized as a protected designation of origin since 1996. Creamy, melting, with a subtle hazelnut flavor, it embodies the excellence of the Lot terroir and the ancestral know-how of the region's goat farmers.

A festival born from the passion of farmhouse producers

Created in 1992 on the initiative of the Syndicat des Producteurs de Fromages Rocamadour (Rocamadour Cheese Producers' Association) and the municipality of Rocamadour, the Festival of Cheeses and Rocamadour AOP has become over the decades the essential meeting place for lovers of farmhouse cheeses in the Southwest. Every year, in spring, the Bois de Belveyre, located two kilometers from the village center towards the train station, hosts producers, farmers, and visitors for a day entirely dedicated to farmhouse cheeses with protected designation of origin.

A program rich in flavors and discoveries

From 10 am to 6 pm, the festival offers a varied program that delights young and old alike:

• Market of AOP farmhouse cheeses bringing together producers from all over France, with regional wine tastings and musical entertainment
• Rocamadour AOP Workshop: discovery of the sector and professions, mini-production, and molding demonstrations
• Rando-Biquette (Goat Hike): spectacular arrival of the goat herd at Bois de Belveyre, from the Ferme la Borie d'Imbert
• Sheepdog Demonstrations: tracking, obedience, and protection work
• Children's Activities: molding workshops, face painting, carousels, and tractor rides

The rustic lunch, a moment of conviviality

A highlight of the day, the rustic lunch offers a generous menu showcasing the products of the Quercy region: grilled Quercy farmhouse lamb with Label Rouge, aligot, Rocamadour AOP cheese, walnut cake, and a glass of festival wine. Served from noon to 2:30 pm, this convivial meal is available on-site at a modest price, in a rustic and musical atmosphere.

An event rooted in the territory

Organized jointly by the Syndicat des Producteurs de Fromages Rocamadour, the municipality of Rocamadour, and the Chambre d'Agriculture du Lot (Lot Chamber of Agriculture), the Festival of Cheeses benefits from the support of the Vallée de la Dordogne Tourist Office. It also hosts Fromagora, the national competition for farmhouse goat cheeses organized by the Fédération Nationale des Éleveurs de Chèvres (FNEC - National Federation of Goat Farmers), which brings together more than 40 categories of cheeses judged by a jury of producers, retailers, and cheese technicians. This festival contributes to the renown of the Rocamadour AOP and the valorization of the pastoral heritage of the Causses du Quercy.