One of the most famous and widely spoken love stories of the Middle Ages, that of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and Katherine Swynford, would even today, after over 500 years have its descendants sitting on the throne of England.

At the heart of the Sanctuary, under the rock, at the feet of Our Lady, every year for centuries, thousands of pilgrims have all reached their goal…to pray at the Chapel of Our Lady of Rocamadour, in which stands the revered statue of the Black Madonna.

Also called the Way of the Cross, The Stations of the Cross originated in the Middle Ages as a series of pictures or sculptures portraying scenes from the Passion of the Christ. You will often find these stations in order around a church nave or on a path, but they can also be placed in cemeteries, hospitals and as is the case with Rocamadour, on mountainsides or pilgrimage sites.

The legend of the sword Durandal has captured the imagination of many for centuries, given to the famed knight Roland by Charlemagne, king of the Franks, it was said to be both powerful and mystical. Embedded in the cliff face at Rocamadour in Southern France you will not be disappointed with this site of medieval pilgrimage

Made up of a series of religious buildings built around a central courtyard (parvis) are the Divine Sanctuaries. During the 13th century, at the height of the Middle Ages and Rocamadour’s glory, there would have been 19 churches, (seven of these were restored in the 19th century), all of which were the destination of the thousands of pilgrims who would visit Rocamadour each year.

The Middle Ages was definitely the golden age of pilgrimages, and there is no shortage of information on the numerous sacred sites that appealed to the pious and devoted. But what about the pilgrims themselves, who were they and why undertake such a holy journey?

Gaze in wonder at the stunning cliffside Medieval village of Rocamadour, a pilgrimage site of Saints and Royalty for almost 900 years.

Is this a case of misjudgment in the pages of history, based on one well-quoted phrase?

When John FitzGilbert broke faith with King Stephen, he knew full well what could happen. The king threatened to hang his 5-year-old son, who he was holding as a hostage, John is reported to have said “Hang him, I still have the hammers and the anvils with which to forge still more and better sons”

Was John FitzGilbert simply a man of his times, pragmatic and brutal? Was he a heartless and uncaring father, or was he instead a very clever and perceptive man who took a chance and played his cards right?

In 1209 after the death of his papal legate Pierre de Castelnau, Pope Innocent III launched the Albigensian Crusade, also known as the Cathar Crusade, to eliminate the unorthodox Cathar heresy that had originated in the Languedoc region of Southern France in the 11th century, Cathars were known as Albigensians due to their association with the city of Albi.

When it comes to Christmas, it can mean different things to different people, one thing for sure is that for most people, regardless of religious persuasion, it is a time of celebration, family and festivity. The holiday itself dates back to the 4th century when Pope Julius I declared December 25 to be the date of Christ’s birth. It was not long before believers all throughout Europe were celebrating the season with feasts, drinking and all sorts of revelry. I decided to go hunting and find out a bit more about some of the modern traditions we enjoy, and it seems a lot of them have come from the mingling of the Christian and the Pagan worlds to develop into what we all know today.

Europe and the UK are famous for their churches, cathedrals and abbeys, awe-inspiring architectural wonders that encompass so much history and so many stories. During our recent scouting trip for our Plantagenets In France tour, to my delight, we visited many of them. It has been very hard to choose my favourites, finally I was able to narrow it down to my top 5. They are not necessarily the grandest, but they are the ones in which I felt a real personal connection.

Enjoy!

What to pack can be one of the most challenging aspects of travelling, so I have put together what I consider the Ultimate Packing List. There will be changes based on where you are going, what you are doing, and how long you are going for but I feel it is a pretty good starting point. I hope it gives you some inspiration and please add a comment if you think I have missed anything really important.

Canterbury Cathedral, one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England was founded in 597 and has been the primary ecclesiastical centre of England since the early 7th century.

Were the Legendary Courts of Love real?

This is a topic that has divided historians for centuries and will probably go on to divide them for many more to come

Maubergeone Tower - part of the original ducal palace and seat of the former Counts of Poitou and Dukes of Aquitaine in Poitiers…. if only the walls could talk, what interesting tales they would tell.

The Middle Ages was a time full of myths, legends and superstitions, the Plantagenets (or the Angevins in particular) are the subject of the one I find most fascinating

The final resting place of royalty, a stunning example of historic gothic architecture and a façade made famous by the artist Claude Monet, make a visit here an absolute must

Themed Historical Tours of France and the UK… what a great idea but why choose the Plantagenets?

Welcome to the Plantagenet Discoveries blog, after a lot of time, effort, and research, now is the moment to finally begin the journey of a lifetime.

Let’s start with a question…

Why do we have dreams?