Do you want to explore South West France?

There is more to the department of the Lot than beautiful river gorges and scenery. Whichever era of history interests you, you will be able to find it here. Prehistoric caves, pilgrimage routes, the Hundred Years war - history in the Lot region goes back thousands of years. 1000 year old churches that once lined the Pilgrimage Route to Santiago de Compostela in Spain remain in use today. Perched villages built long ago work their magic on you. Bastides built to bring in commerce, charm you with their squares and covered archways.

Food and wine of South West France

This is one of the classic French food regions of SW France and while the holiday cottage is self catering there are cafes and restaurants in the local villages and we have provided a restaurant guide in the house book. There are many vineyards to explore.

Worried about crowds of people in France in summer? One of the advantages of the Lot is that it unlike the Dordogne or some other parts of the South of France, even though there are lots of wonderful things to see and do, it is never heaving with too many tourists, and traffic is generally minimal.

Would you like to learn to converse in French? We can arrange for a native speaking French teacher to come to the house to give you personal French lessons.

Check out the regions sights of the Lot-Quercy (in our Photo Gallery of SW France) from the holiday house in France

Paleolithic Art

The Peche Merle caves, also close to the holiday cottage, which are about 3km from the interesting village of Cabrerets were discovered by two teenage boys and were opened to the public in 1924. As well as all kinds of stalagmites there are many paleolithic drawings. We recommend that you visit before lunch to avoid larger groups, although each group is limited to around 20. Or alternatively pack a lunch from the gite using the delicious food available in South West France, and take it with you.

St Cirq Lapopie - magical village

The holiday accommodation is ideally placed for you to drive to St Cirq Lapopie, which is one of the prettiest villages of France situated high above the river overlooking canal boats, and rolling fields. The French writer Andre Breton who settled here late in his life, because he “could stop wishing himself elsewhere” described the village as an “impossible sort of midnight rose” and with good reason.

Rocamadour - sacred site

Rocamadour appears to cling to a sheer rockface and includes several beautiful chapels and churches, chateaux and narrow streets. It was already a place of pilgrimage prior to the 12th century. Leading from the village to the spiritual centre of the old city is the Grand Staircase of 216 steps.

Not far past Rocamadour, is Collonges, in the Correze, a fascinating red village.

The owner of the holiday cottage rental often paints watercolours / watercolors of these local attractions.

Cahors - Roman and medieval town

Cahors, the capital of the Lot, South West France is surrounded by the water of the river’s loop. The holiday cottage or vacation rental is about 20 minutes drive from here. There are Roman ruins in the town, as well as medieval streets and houses. The beautiful Valentre Bridge, in Cahors, built in the 14th century is a World Heritage listed site. The Cathedral was built in the 11th century and has a cloister worth visiting.

Villages in the Cahors wine appellation

Further west on the river from Cahors, past the vineyards of Luzech is the village of Puy L'Eveque which seems to melt into the water. There is even a lighthouse in the centre of town!!

Castelnau Montratier is a town near Montcuq high up on a ridge boasting a beautiful basilica, interesting covered arcades around its square, or rather triangle, and some windmills on the outskirts. Monpezat de Quercy with its tapestries is also nearby.

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