Les Montgolfiades de Rocamadour is the annual two-day Hot Air Balloon Festival that takes place every year on the last weekend of September in the picturesque French Rocamadour. Attracting 20,000 locals and tourists every year, the festival gathers over 30 participants from various parts of Europe. The balloons ascend into the skies from the base of the Sacred City. With free admission and parking, this event promises a perfect family-friendly weekend getaway.
Schedule of the Festival
Over 30 balloons of all shapes and sizes, including cartoon and Disney characters, vehicles, and buildings, will fill the sky above the Canyon de l'Alzou and float gracefully along the castle towers. There are two balloon launches each day of the event. The sunrise flights take place early in the morning, around 8:30 on Saturday and 8:00 on Sunday. The late afternoon balloons will take off at 5 pm, when the sun starts to descend. If weather conditions pose a safety risk, flights may be either canceled or rescheduled to ensure the safety of all involved. Activities and Flea Market at Place des écoles are scheduled from 9 am to 5 pm.
Location
The finest places to watch the balloons include l'Hospitalet, the village above Rocamadour, and the fields at the bottom of the Alzou canyon. You can visit the historical sites of the clifftop city while you wait for the balloons to fill the sky. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and boasts 4 beautiful arched stone gates: The Chapelle Notre Dame and the Vierge Noire statue, built in the 12th century, and a stunning Château de Rocamadour.
The history of the festival
In 1985, Rocamadour witnessed the historic flight of the Montgolfier brothers' invention during the filming of a movie intended for Disneyland in the United States. This event sparked the idea, leading to Rocamadour's participation in the Midi Pyrénées Trophy, where local balloonists took flight above Ariège for the first time. The following year, Rocamadour became an official stopover town for the event. Thus, twenty vibrant balloons graced the Alzou valley for the first time, marking the birth of the Montgolfiades de Rocamadour.
