Le pont Valentré à Cahors, CRT Occitanie_Dominique VIET
Cahors vallée du Lot, CRT Occitanie_Dominique VIET
Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, CRT Occitanie_Dominique VIET
Puy-L'Evêque, Cyril Novello / ADT Lot
Cahors vallée du Lot carte
Start with 2 Cahors gems listed as world heritage in relation to the Santiago de Compostela routes: the town's iconic Pont Valentré (14th century bridge) and the stunning Saint-Etienne Cathedral with its Byzantine-style domes.
Then wander around the old town's medieval lanes which give Cahors a mysterious and magical atmosphere. Soak up the beautiful rich homes, magical little squares and inventive Secret Gardens that splash the town with colour.
Unwind in the shade of the plane trees as you watch the hustle and bustle on Boulevard Gambetta built in the 19th century.
Cahors vallée du Lot, CRT Occitanie_Dominique VIET
The open and relaxing atmosphere in Cahors and the Lot Valley #GrandSiteOccitanie offers total change of scenery and a whole range of exciting activities. There’s something for everyone. Recommended itinerary from Sabine Baldès, an independent winegrower from the Lot Valley.
Well worth a visit
Drive or walk 30 mins up Mont Saint-Cyr for views of Cahors sitting on the front of the Lot like a crown glittering with jewels.
4000 hectares of vineyards on both sides of the Lot River peppered with traditional Quercy villages, pretty churches, châteaus and a national "Vignobles et Découvertes" accreditation to boot: you don't want to skip this vineyard given the beauty of its scenery and its famous Cahors Malbec red wine oozing personality.
Try it at the winemakers, Villa Cahors Malbec or drink it alongside a local speciality to bring out its flavour: Rocamadour cheese, nuts, truffle, Quercy free-range lamb etc.
Cahors vallée du Lot, M.Morel / ADT Lot
Our favourite
Lot of Saveurs: a food and drink festival held in July in Cahors. It's pure joy and is packed with a LOT of surprises every year. The atmosphere is buzzing and tastebuds are tingling.
An unforgettable vision of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie clinging to its cliff 100m above the Lot. The entire village is listed as a Monument Historique and its uniform look is rare to see. From the top of the village, the view of roofs covered in plum-coloured Quercy tiles is stunning.
Wander along lanes, staircases and hidden passageways. The setting has attracted countless artists and authors just like André Breton. You can still visit artisans, explore the Rignault Museum and meet resident artists at the Maison Daura.
Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, Patrice Thébault / CRT Occitanie
Quotation
“Saint-Cirq-Lapopie has cast a single spell on me: the one that is unbreakable. I stopped wanting to be elsewhere”: André Breton, writer, leader of the French surrealists, in 1950.
You will love Puy-L’Evêque, a medieval town surrounded by the AOC Cahors vineyard. The terraced village built above the Lot was the fief for Cahors' bishops. Soak up its carefree atmosphere as you admire its amazing heritage: 13th century keep, churches, lanes and staircases lined with gold stone houses, hanging gardens and more. This will lead you down to the port. Barges used to berth here as they transported wine on the Lot: they have now been replaced by houseboats and canoes.
Puy-L'Evêque, CRT Occitanie_Dominique VIET
Cahors vallée du Lot, CRT Occitanie_Dominique VIET
Follow the Lot on either side of Cahors. It will take you to the valley's best sites: Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, one of the most beautiful villages in France, Laroque-des-Arcs, Luzech and its Tour de l’Impernal, the lovely bastide of Castelfranc, the medieval town of Puy-L'Evêque and more. The river was once a major trading route and winds along white cliffs or loops around vineyards.
Explore the Lot Valley by car, by boat, by bike on the Lot Valley Cycle Path or on foot like the pilgrims on the Puy trail.
Regional Committee for Tourism and Leisure Occitanie
Others websites
How to get there?
Cahors is the capital of the Lot, 1 hr 25 mins from Toulouse.
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