Ideas for some days out:
 | By Car: |
Medieval Village and Prehistoric Cave Paintings -
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The closest local attractions are the medieval cliff-top village of St. Cirq Lapopie and the caves of Pech Merle. Carved out of the limestone, and decorated 29,000 years ago, Pech Merle, with its prehistoric paintings and eerily beautiful rock formations, is a 25 minute drive south east of us. Be sure to book ahead in season, as tours are restricted (Tel: 0565.31.27.05). And take warm clothing, as the caves are a permanent 12 degrees celsius.
St. Cirq Lapopie, recently voted THE most beautiful of Les plus beaux villages de France, is just a few miles south of Pech Merle. A huddle of medieval half-timbered stone houses clinging to the cliffs 330 ft. above the river Lot, it is an impressive sight. For the best views, approach the village from Tour de Faure (Follow the D662 and then turn right just after entering Tour de Faure); return via the D40, which will take you down to Bouzies, on a road which hugs the cliffs, giving you panoramic vistas over the gorge.
The Rocamadour Tour -
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No visit to the area would be complete without visiting the picturesque hanging village of Rocamadour, with its castle, shrine, museum, caves - and, for the animal-lovers, its bee-house, collection of birds of prey and monkeys. If you have the time, take in the impressive Gouffre de Padirac, which is just a few miles east of Rocamadour. The Gouffre is a huge swallow-hole in the limestone plateau, off which there are a series of caves, which you tour by boat on a subterranean river. It's worth stopping by the site, even if you don't want to go down into the gouffre, as you can still peer into it from above for free, and without having to queue!
Tour the Cahors vineyards
The Tapestries, Castle, and Prehistoric Cave Tour -
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There's something for everyone in this circuit, which combines a trip to the renaissance Montal Castle, the beautiful caves of Presque (which are just down the road from Montal) and the house of painter and tapestry-maker Jean Lurçat, in Saint-Laurent-les-Tours, next to St. Céré.
The Château de Montal features a double spiral staircase, said to be the most beautiful in France. The castle was built by Jeanne de Balsac between 1523 and 1534, for her son who had gone to war; her desperate motto "plus d'espoir" (no more hope) which is carved above the door into the castle, suggests that he never came back.
If you have time, take in the imposing castle of Castelnau-Bretenoux as well - and don't miss the lovely oratory church next door, with its delightful 15th century wood-carvings. Plan your route to take in one or more of the three Plus Beaux Villages de France which are also in the area: Loubressac, Autoire and Carennac.
Sarlat, Domme and La Roque Gageac -
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Sarlat - which has more listed buildings per square kilometre than anywhere else in Europe - is about an hour away by car. On your way up, stop by in the bastide village of Domme, and enjoy a panoramic view over the Dordogne valley from the Belvedere. Then go on to explore the stunning little village of La Roque Gageac which hugs the cliffs next to the river Dordogne.
On your way back, wander round the pretty medieval hill-top town of Gourdon, and if you have time, take in the spectacular little caves of Cougnac.
Tour the valleys of the Lot and Célé
This tour takes you up one valley to Figeac and Capdenac-le-Haut, and then back down the other - a round trip of some 90 miles. This site will help you plan your day. The site is currently only in French, but there are plenty of photos, which will give you a good idea of what there is to see, even if your French is a little rusty.
| By train |
Let the train take the strain! Cahors, Rocamadour and Figeac all run little tourist-trains, which pootle through the streeets, giving you a good (and relaxing !) introduction to each city. The Cahors train starts from the car-park next to the Pont Valentré.
to top | By boat |
You can cruise the river Lot, boarding at Bouziès, just behind the Hotel Les Falaises, for a tour which will take you past the lovely hanging village of St Cirq-Lapopie, or take the Le Schmilblic tour, which starts at Cajarc, and will take you past the castles of Salvagnac, and Montbrun.
| On foot |
A lovely local walk is down to our local village of St. Martin de Vers, which has hardly changed since the mid 1850's. Click here for a map. Another fine walk is along the Chemin de Halage - the old river-boat towpath - which is cut into the overhanging cliffs along the banks of the Lot between Bouziès and St. Cirq Lapopie. There's a good choice of other local hikes, lovingly described, with maps and photos, on the randonnées-lotoises.net site.
Both Cahors and Figeac have an old medieval part - la vieille ville - which you can wander round on foot.
