This week, I’m offering you a beautiful Lot Valley itinerary, to find out the best places to visit in the Lot Valley. I already had the pleasure of visiting the Lot three years ago (already!) during my road trip between Martel, Padirac, Rocamadour, and Saint Cirq-Lapopie. This year, I decided to show you another part of this magnificent department: the Lot Valley and the Célé Valley. So let’s start this week with a visit to the Lot Valley!
Don’t forget to read my article on the neighboring Célé Valley!
You may be familiar with Cahors or Saint Cirq-Lapopie, but the Lot Valley actually stretches across the entire southern part of the department, running from east to west from Capdenac-le-Haut to Puy l’Evêque. The Lot is also one of the longest rivers in France, at 485 km!
Come on, let me take you through this Lot Valley itinerary, with a few must-see spots nestled in the heart of its beautiful meanders… Let’s go!
PRACTICAL TIPS FOR THIS LOT VALLEY ITINERARY
How to get there?
This Lot Valley itinerary can be explored from Cahors, the capital of the Lot department. Cahors is located 1 hour 20 minutes north of Toulouse by car (1 hour 10 minutes from Toulouse-Blagnac airport, which is the nearest), 2 hours 30 minutes from Bordeaux and 5 hours 30 minutes from Paris.
If you come by train, the journey times are similar, as Toulouse is 1 hour 20 minutes away, Limoges 2 hours and Paris 5 hours 30 minutes.
Where to stay for this tour of the Lot Valley?
La Combe de Redoles guest house, in Tour de Faure
Recently settled in the region, Valérie and Stephan welcome their guests to a beautiful estate just a few minutes from Saint Cirq-Lapopie. You will have access to comfortable and modern rooms, a swimming pool, and a common room decorated with many antique objects, surrounded by greenery. A very nice place to discover this Lot Valley itinerary!
To book a stay at La Combe de Redoles, click here!
How to get around the Lot Valley?
A car is essential for visiting the Lot and enjoying complete freedom! You can rent one at Cahors train station, for example.
Compare car rentals to find the best price!
The stages of this Lot Valley itinerary
You should allow three days to complete this Lot Valley itinerary and enjoy it to the full, or even longer if you really want to take your time. As a guide, the road along the Lot River is 115 km from Puy-l’Evêque to Capdenac-le-Haut.
Sample itinerary for your trip to the Lot Valley:
Lot Valley Itinerary – Day 1: Drive along the vineyards to Puy-l’Evêque (visit: about 1 hour) in the morning, then explore Cahors in the afternoon
Lot Valley Itinerary – Day 2: Explore the area around Saint Cirq-Lapopie (village: approx. 1.5 hours), Létou farm (allow a good hour), cruise on the Lot in Bouziès (1 hour 15 minutes) and towpath (1 hour)
Lot Valley Itinerary – Day 3: Drive along the Lot Valley via the Château de Cénevières (approx. 1 hour for a self-guided tour, 2 hours with a guided tour) to Capdenac-le-Haut (visit: 45 minutes)
Where to eat in the Lot Valley?
In Puy-l’Evêque: Le Médiéval – tasty, refined cuisine in the heart of the village, offering unbeatable value for money.
In Cahors: L’O à la bouche – a Cahors institution, whose elegant, creative cuisine delights the taste buds and showcases local produce. As an added bonus, the kitchen is open to the dining room and the sommelier is on hand to offer advice!
In Saint Cirq-Lapopie: Le Gourmet Quercynois – traditional cuisine made with excellent local produce, served in a beautiful Quercy house in the heart of Saint Cirq-Lapopie. For dessert, don’t forget the unmissable Quercy pastis to round off your meal in style.
In Tour de Faure: L’Oilo – located in a quiet spot at the foot of Saint Cirq-Lapopie, with a view of the rock, this restaurant-pizzeria offers excellent dishes and live music in the evening.
What to bring back from the Lot Valley?
Visiting the Lot through this Lot Valley itinerary also means enjoying the many local specialties… Here are my ideas for souvenirs to bring home!
Cheeses from the Létou farm (especially the famous Rocamadour) are a must, as are foie gras and truffles, which are institutions in the region. Another local specialty is saffron, which has been grown in the region since the 11th century. You’ll find local producers, especially at the museum in Saint Cirq-Lapopie.
If you have a sweet tooth, don’t forget to take home a walnut tart and a pastis quercynois (a delicious apple pastry). You can find them in bakeries or restaurants.
And when it comes to drinks, between Cahors wines and Ratz du Quercy beers, you’ll be spoiled for choice!
LOT VALLEY ITINERARY – STAGE 1: PUY L’EVÊQUE AND THE CAHORS VINEYARDS
Let’s start this Lot Valley itinerary in Puy l’Evêque, about thirty kilometers west of Cahors. This pretty ochre-colored village is nestled against a cliff overlooking the Lot. It’s nice to stroll through its narrow streets and discover its pretty, well-preserved medieval houses. Don’t hesitate to stop by the tourist office to pick up a free map so you don’t miss any of the village’s remarkable sites!
I also recommend taking a walk along the Lot on the other side of the river to admire the village from afar! This is undoubtedly the best place to see Puy-l’Evêque’s pretty colors and tall towers…
Now let’s follow the road along the Lot towards Cahors! This is an opportunity to explore the Cahors vineyards, which are among the oldest in Europe. They date back to Roman times and produce one of the region’s many specialties: Cahors red wine.
The road between the vineyards and the river is particularly pretty, and you can even stop off in a few charming villages, such as Albas!
LOT VALLEY ITINERARY – STAGE 2: CAHORS AND THE VALENTRÉ BRIDGE
Our second stop in the Lot Valley will be Cahors, the department’s capital. Built on a bend in the Lot River, Cahors is a pretty town dotted with numerous vestiges of centuries past. From the Arc de Diane, a testament to Cahors’ Roman origins, to its superb Baroque gates, Cahors surprises with its diversity! And while some streets may seem a little neglected at times, it’s a pleasure to stroll through its typical narrow streets steeped in history.
My favorite? The rue Daurade with its 13th-century half-timbered house, or the cathedral square, where the market is held on Wednesday mornings. Don’t hesitate to step inside the amazing cathedral with its two domes. A little further on is another of Cahors’ curiosities, the mesmerizing ball clock!
Take a stroll along the banks of the Lot to see Cahors’ masterpiece, the Pont Valentré bridge! It is undoubtedly the town’s most famous building. This magnificent medieval fortified bridge spanning the Lot dates back to the 14th century. You can walk across it and admire the three majestic towers that stand above it…
LOT VALLEY ITINERARY – STAGE 3: CRUISE ON THE LOT IN BOUZIES
Continue up the Lot to the village of Bouziès, east of Cahors. Here you will find the pier for the Croisières de Saint Cirq-Lapopie, which offer beautiful cruises along the Lot between Bouziès and Saint-Cirq.
During the 1 hour 15 minute cruise, you will discover the magnificent cliffs with their changing colors that protect the Lot from their lofty heights. The trip is peaceful and wild, barely disturbed by the sound of swallows nesting in the cliffs. This escape aboard a traditional flat-bottomed boat makes you forget that the Lot is a particularly difficult river to navigate (it is closed from November to April due to flooding upstream).
After passing through a lock, the gabare trip ends at the foot of Saint Cirq-Lapopie, where you can admire the village. You can also disembark and walk back to Bouziès via the towpath.
As you float along, you’ll enjoy breathtaking views of the curious towpath, carved into the cliff in 1846. It was used by horses to pull boats, meeting the needs of the Industrial Revolution, which greatly increased traffic.
You can also walk along it; it’s about 5 km between Bouziès and Saint Cirq-Lapopie!
Opposite the pier, take a look at the “défilé des Anglais” (English parade), with its castle hidden in the cliff. You wouldn’t believe it dates back to the 13th century, or that behind the stone lies a maze of galleries and the old rooms of the castle!
The road along the Lot is also very pleasant, with numerous vaulted passages carved into the rock…
Cruises from Saint Cirq-Lapopie: from April 1 to October 31, every day at 2:30 p.m. (other times available in summer, see website), €13.50 for those over 12, €8.50 for children.
LOT VALLEY ITINERARY – STAGE 4: SAINT CIRQ-LAPOPIE
No tour of the Lot Valley would be complete without a visit to Saint Cirq-Lapopie! Climb up to the Lapopie rock to visit this magnificent village, listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France. Nestled in a spectacular setting and perched 100 meters above the Lot, it still retains all its medieval charm.
The interior of the village is also worth exploring, as Saint Cirq-Lapopie is one of those charming villages where time seems to have stood still. Its many medieval half-timbered houses with flat tile roofs give it a unique character.
Stroll through the sloping streets and don’t miss the breathtaking views from the bottom of the village and from the P5 car park!
I already devoted an entire article to Saint Cirq-Lapopie during my previous road trip. So if you want to find out more about this little gem in the Lot Valley, click here: Road trip in the Lot #3: Saint Cirq-Lapopie.
LOT VALLEY ITINERARY – STAGE 5: DISCOVER ROCAMADOUR CHEESE AT THE FERME DE LÉTOU
It’s time for a little gourmet stop to discover one of the Lot’s delicious culinary specialties, Rocamadour cheese. To do so, head to the heights of Saint Cirq-Lapopie, to the Létou farm. It is one of around thirty farms that produce the famous raw milk goat cheese. But it has a special feature: you can visit it!
This family farm has 200 goats and kids, raised in the open air. And their happy owners are happy to share their passion for their work with passing food lovers… You can watch them work and make the little cheeses, but you can also watch the goats being milked every day at 6pm!
This is a great opportunity to learn a little more about how these AOP cheeses are made. Only nine days separate milking from the sale of the cheese, including six days of drying under very specific conditions. It is this period that gives Rocamadour its delicious creaminess.
Meeting these adorable goats and their attentive owners is a truly delightful experience! It’s sure to please young and old alike!
Of course, there’s also a shop selling the farm’s products. You’ll find goat’s cheese of varying degrees of dryness, yogurt, and a few other local products.
Ferme de Létou: free guided tour during milking, every day at 6pm. Shop open every day from 10am to 12pm and from 4pm to 8pm. More information on the Cahors tourism website.
LOT VALLEY ITINERARY – STAGE 6: THE CASTLE OF CENEVIERES
I suggest continuing this road trip to the Château de Cénevières, a curious castle that is still family-owned! Dominating the Lot Valley from a height of over 50 meters, it has belonged to the Braquilanges family since the end of the Revolution. I really liked the fact that it is still maintained by a passionate family who have the daunting task of preserving some 53 rooms and three floors covering 1,500 square meters!
You can visit this unusual castle on your own or with a guide and discover all its nooks and crannies steeped in history. Upon arrival, you can’t help but be amazed by this impressive medieval-looking castle. However, it has been influenced by several periods, with its 13th-century keep and loggia inspired by the Italian Renaissance. You will also enjoy a breathtaking view of the Lot and the surrounding countryside!
The interior is richly decorated as it was in its heyday, with tapestries, antique books, and numerous objects found by the owners in the rooms of the castle. You can visit the superb reception room, an alchemist’s laboratory, the kitchens, the chapel, and even take a peek at the dungeons!
And if you pay close attention, you’ll notice many details, each with its own little story. Your guide will be happy to reveal them to you!
Cénevières Castle: open every day from April to October (check opening hours). Guided tour €8 (€4 for ages 7-15).
THE LOT VALLEY ROAD, ON THE EAST SIDE
The road then continues east of the Château de Cénevières, along the Lot River… And with every mile, it reveals hidden surprises…
You will notice a few semi-troglodyte houses near Saint Martin-Labouval, as well as the Château de Larnagol. A little further on, don’t hesitate to stop off at Cajarc, the birthplace of Françoise Sagan and holiday destination of the Pompidou family, where the president began his career as a municipal councilor!
At a bend in the Lot, don’t miss the Château de la Larroque-Toirac clinging to the cliff and, right next to it, the pretty fortified church of Saint Pierre-Toirac. As you drive along, the yellow stone gradually appears on the facades… I particularly recommend stopping at Faycelles to discover another little gem with golden stones that deserves to be listed!
This road trip through the Lot Valley ends in Capdenac-le-Haut, located on the border with the Aveyron department. The village is unique in that it is split in two! On one side is the hilltop part, which belongs to the Lot department, and on the other side of the river is the village of Capdenac, located in the Aveyron department! I was a little disappointed by this village, considering its ranking among the most beautiful villages in France, but it still offers some lovely views of the Lot Valley!
LOT VALLEY ITINERARY – WHAT TO DO IN THE SURROUNDING AREA?
Lot Valley, on the Aveyron side: you can continue along the Lot River as it flows upstream to discover the beautiful villages of Aveyron that line its banks. Don’t miss Estaing, Espalion, Saint Côme d’Olt, and Sainte Eulalie d’Olt, almost all of which are listed among the most beautiful villages in France!
– Vallée du Célé (15 minutes from Saint Cirq-Lapopie): another gem of the department, the Célé Valley runs parallel to the Lot Valley. A more secret and resolutely natural destination that I will introduce you to very soon on the blog!
– Conques (45 minutes from Capdenac): listed among the most beautiful villages in France, Conques is home to a jewel of Romanesque art, with stained glass windows designed by the painter Soulages. A major stop on the Way of St. James!
– Villefranche-de-Rouergue (45 minutes from Capdenac): the Aveyron gorges hide superb bastides, beautiful villages and unspoiled nature to explore! Discover them in my article What to do in Villefranche-de-Rouergue and the surrounding area?
– Saint Antonin-Noble-Val and the Aveyron Gorges (50 minutes away): the Tarn-et-Garonne is not far from the Lot Valley, and Saint Antonin-Noble-Val in particular. I recount my adventures in this charming artists’ village in my article on the Aveyron Gorges…
– Rocamadour and the Padirac Chasm (1 hour from Cahors): a must-see if you’re visiting the Lot, Rocamadour is a beautiful village clinging to a cliff and known for its religious center. Its neighbor, the Padirac Chasm, is without a doubt one of the most beautiful natural wonders I’ve seen in France! You can find out more in my article on All You Need to Know to Visit Rocamadour and Padirac.
– Martel and the Dordogne Valley (1 hour from Cahors): the “village with seven towers” is a little gem in the north of the Lot. Read my article on Martel and the one on the Dordogne Valley to find out more!
This blogpost follows an invitation from Lot Tourisme. However, I remain entirely free to express my own opinions and am completely sincere in my recommendations! A huge thank you to Anna and all the service providers who made this trip unforgettable!
Coming soon on La Marinière en Voyage…
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