Suggested itineraries

Here are suggestions for 8 tours to see the best of the Lot (and its neighbours) :

1. The green and unspoiled countryside of La Xaintrie

2. The Dordogne of the Gabariers (boatmen), and the "salt road"

3. The Célé and the limestone plateau landscape of the causses 

4. The absolute « must-sees »  

5. Quercy, a unique heritage

6.  Explore the little-known Bouriane

7. The other Dordogne, the home of castles and artists... 

8. Along the way, discover the secrets of the Périgord Noir...

1 - CUREMONTE, COLLONGES, BRIVE...

The green and unspoiled countryside of La Xaintrie

SOUILLAC

Take the D703 towards Martel. After 7 km, in Le Pigeon, turn right towards Saint-Sozy. In the centre of the village, take the D114 to the left. Come to Creysse. (« LA CAMPAGNOISE » Duck and goose Foie gras. Tradition and quality are their keynotes. Free visit and tasting.
Tel : 05 65 32 23 55).

CREYSSE

Church - Follow the D23 then fork right on the D43 to get to the little village of Gluges. At the junction with the N140, go left towards Martel. Turn right, direction belvédère de Copeyre, D703, towards St-Denis-les-Martel. After going through the village of St-Denis, continue on the D703 over the railway bridge on the right. On the Vayrac road, on the left you can see the Puy d'Issolud.

VAYRAC

On leaving the village, go to Curemonte (« one of the most beautiful villages in France » Succession of ramparts and fortified towers. Castle, church, orientation table.) then head for Marcillac la Croze on the D15. At the junction of the D15 and the D38, turn left towards Meyssac, Collonges. («one of the most beautiful villages in France ». Built in red sandstone, it has many fine houses. On one of the Santiago de Compostela Pilgrim ways, the village has an 11th century Romanesque church.)

COLLONGES LA ROUGE

5 km after Collonges on the D38, turn left on the D150 for Turenne.

TURENNE

Leave Turenne on the Brive road, go left on the D19 towards Nespouls to get to the N20. 4 km further on, on the right, going towards Brive, there is the Fage Chasm.

LE GOUFFRE DE LA FAGE

Underground site. 2 galleries : pearly draperies ; countless stalactites . Tel : 05 55 85 30 35

BRIVE LA GAILLARDE

(LALBENCHE Museum: Art and History Museum. 16 rooms : varied collections. World-renowned tapestries: 17th century English tapestries from Mortlake. 26 bis bd Jules Ferry in Brive. Tel : 05 55 92 39 39)

(EDMOND MICHELET Museum: Centre National de la Résistance et de la Déportation. 10 rooms full of documents linked to the Second World War. 4 rue Champanatier in Brive. Tel : 05 55 74 06 08)

Go out of Brive towards the N89 direction Larche. In Larche, go left on the D19, go past the Lac du Causse in Chasteaux and carry on until you pick up the D820 for Souillac.

2 - CARENNAC, AUTOIRE, SAINT-CÉRÉ...

The Dordogne of the Gabariers, and the "salt road"

SOUILLAC

Take the D703 towards Martel. After 7 km, in Le Pigeon, turn right towards Saint-Sozy. In the centre of the village, take the D114 to your left. Come to Creysse (12th century church with 2 apses on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Dordogne).

CREYSSE

Visite the La Campagnoise farm. Follow the D23 then fork right on the D43 to get to the little village of Gluges. After the bridge on your right on the RN140, turn left on the D43 to Floirac and follow this road to Carennac. (Church and cloister, entombment, Pietà, former priory with painted ceilings, île de Calypso).

CARENNAC

Classed as « one of the most beautiful villages in France» ; priory, cloister. Leave Carennac on the D30, then the D14 and D118, go up on the right to the village of Loubressac.

LOUBRESSAC

Classed as « one of the most beautiful villages in France» ; superb viewpoint overlooking Castelnau (12th century castle restored and furnished late 19th century. Large collection of furniture and objets d'art. Tel : 05 65 10 98 00) and the Dordogne valley. Go back down on the D118 then take the D135 towards Autoire.

AUTOIRE

Church, remains of Château des Anglais (fortified cave), the village houses make this « one of the most beautiful villages in France» at the foot of the Causse from which pours out a lovely waterfall. In Autoire, take the D38 then at the junction with the D673, turn left to St-Céré. 5 km from St-Céré, visit the Presque Caves (Concretions of all shapes and colours - some of the loveliest in Europe), and enjoy the Château de Montal (Renaissance gem. Architecture, sculptures, monumental staircase. 16th century tapestry, 16th and 17th century furniture. Renaissance interior courtyard. Tel : 05 65 38 13 72).

SAINT-CÉRÉ

Maison des Consuls, « Le Casino » art gallery. From the place du Mercadial, view of the Tours de Saint Laurent (Jean Lurçat's studio) which is on the right as you leave St Céré on the D940 direction Bretenoux.

BRETENOUX

Just before the village square, make a detour via the D14 on the left direction Prudhomat to view and visit the Château de Castelnau (12th and 15th century stronghold restored and furnished late 19th century. Large collection of furniture and objets d'art. Tel : 05 65 10 98 00). Go back the way you came, leave the D940 for the D703 to Vayrac, Martel.

MARTEL

Town with Seven Towers : ramparts, Saint-Maur church, Palais de la Raymondie. As you come back up from St Denis les Martel, stop at Les Landes at the Moulin à Huile de Noix (Lac de Diane family-run walnut-oil mill, traditionally-produced walnut oil from a mill that is still in commercial production. Specialities : walnut oil, walnut wine, confit, duck breast... Free visits. Tel : 05 65 37 40 69). Leave Martel to the south-west on the D703 direction Souillac.

3 - GRAMAT, BELLEVUE, MARCILHAC...

The Célé and the limestone landscape of the causses

SOUILLAC

Take the D703 towards Martel. After 7 km, at Le Pigeon, turn right towards Saint-Sozy. Follow the D15 towards Meyronne, for 10 km and join the N140 going towards Gramat (LES ETAINS ARSENE MAIGNE, workshops and shop (handmade pewter) Tel : 05 65 38 74 94).

GRAMAT

Church of Saint-Pierre, Saut Mill, Tumulus, Wildlife Park. Leave Gramat, going towards Figeac. At 15 km from Le Bourg turn right on the D653, come to Assier (Renaissance Château begun in 1520 by Galiot de Genouillac, victor at the battle of Marignan in the service of François 1st . Tel : 05 65 40 40 99).

ASSIER

Follow the D653, Livernon (La Pierre Martine, the finest dolmen in Quercy ; the Menhir de Bélinac and numerous gariottes or dry-stone huts). In Livernon, take the D653 for 7 km then go left on the D14 towards Marcilhac. Visit the Bellevue Cave. Go to Marcilhac (priory) direction Cajarc on the D17. In Cajarc, take the road to Cahors. After Larnagol, take the bridge on the left towards Cénevières.

CÉNEVIÈRES

13th century castle altered during the Renaissance open to the public. In St-Martin-Labouval, turn towards Sauliac on the D24. In Sauliac, go left, direction Cabrerets on the D41. Stop at the Cuzals Open-air Museum.

MUSÉE DE CUZALS

Go back to the Célé valley, going towards Cabrerets then turn right on the D40, towards Orniac, Sénaillac Lauzès, Soulomès.

LABASTIDE-MURAT

MURAT MUSEUM : Furniture, documents and objects that belonged to the family of the Princes. Tel : 05 65 21 19 23

Get on to the D820 via the D10 and the D1. In Payrac, return towards Souillac.

4 - LACAVE, COUGNAGUET, ROCAMADOUR, PADIRAC, MARTEL...

The absolute « must-sees »

SOUILLAC

Leave Souillac on the D820 in the direction of Toulouse. Before the bridge over the Dordogne, turn left, D43, Pinsac. In Pinsac make a detour to visit the Ferme Andral (Visit of the farm. Geese and ducks, home-made conserves). After the Château de la Treyne, take the Calès road to the right. Go back on yourself and follow the D23 to Lacave.

LACAVE

Caves open to the public. Get to Rocamadour on the D247 making a detour via the Moulin de Cougnaguet (this fortified flour mill is a listed historic monument. Demonstration of flour milling during each visit. Tel : 05 65 32 63 09 ou 05 65 38 73 56), branching off to the right via Cantaloube.

ROCAMADOUR

From l'Hospitalet, view over Rocamadour. Go down into the village to visit the site. Go back up to l'Hospitalet (MAISON DES ABEILLES : the mysterious and fascinating world of nature... the life of the domestic bee and the job of beekeeper. Tel : 05 65 33 66 98) ; (LA FÔRET DES SINGES : wildlife park with 100 Barbary apes living in complete freedom in 10 hectares of wooded grounds. Tel : 05 65 33 62 72) ; (LA FÉERIE DU RAIL : a mobile seating platform transports you back and forth past an impressive model railway layout. A train sets off, the town starts to wake up, lights flash, and you get carried away.... Tel : 05 65 33 71 06); (GROTTE HISTORIQUE DES MERVEILLES : contains numerous crystalline concretions and is decorated with drawings that are over 200 000 yrs. old. Tel : 05 65 33 67 92), and take the D673 which crosses the N140. Go through Alvignac to get to Padirac.

PADIRAC

Visit the chasm to the left on the D90. Retrace your steps and turn right on the D60 towards Miers. Via the D70, go to Montvalent (see the Cirque de Montvalent) then go back up towards Martel on the N140.

MARTEL

Town with 7 Towers. Continue on the D703 to Souillac.

5 - SAINT-CIRQ-LAPOPIE, PECH MERLE, CAHORS, PEYRILLES...

Quercy, a unique heritage

SOUILLAC

Take the D820 as far as Pont de Rhodes. Turn left on the D2 and after 3 km turn right towards Labastide-Murat (D17). In Labastide, take direction St Martin de Vers (D32). Go to Sabadel-Lauzès and down towards the Grotte de Pech Merle (prehistoric painted cave and Amédée Lemozi Museum. Presentation of prehistoric Man's daily life. Exhibition hall, film, visit. Tel : 05 65 31 27 05) par la D13, follow the Célé to Cabrerets then turn left into the Lot valley, to Saint-Cirq-Lapopie (Listed as a "Major Site". In the Lot valley, and well worth a visit : church, castle, Rignault Museum).

SAINT-CIRQ-LAPOPIE

Take the D8 to Arcambal via La Peyre and Galessie. In Arcambal, take the direction Cahors via the D911.

CAHORS

Gallo-Roman city, a university town in the Middle Ages. Old quarters, narrow back streets, Renaissance façades, Cathedral of Saint-Etienne, (MUSÉE DE LA RESISTANCE : six rooms with material relating to the development of the Resistance in the Lot, the deportations and persecution that resulted from this, the armed struggle for the Liberation and lastly the saga of the Free French from Brazzaville to Berlin. Espace Bessières in Cahors. Tel : 05 65 22 14 25). Leave Cahors on the Brive road, take the D911 direction Villeneuve sur Lot to Mercuès.

MERCUÈS

Elegant château, now a hotel. Perched above the Lot valley, it once belonged to the Bishops of Cahors who did a remarkable job of restoring it in the 17th century. Go back up through la Bouriane via the D12, St-Denis-Catus, Peyrilles (Musée Postal du Lot), Concorès, Château de Clermont.

In Concorès, turn right towards the N20 via St-Germain-du-Bel-Air (down in the valley, you cross the Céou stream; Church, Château de Sept Fonds, Tour Carrée). Go back up the D820 towards Souillac.

6 - LAMOTHE FÉNELON, LES ARQUES, BONAGUIL...

Explore the little-known Bouriane

SOUILLAC

From Souillac, take the direction Sarlat, then turn left towards Le Roc, Gourdon. Follow the D12 tourist road to Gourdon going via Lamothe Fénelon (FOIE GRAS JACQUIN : visit a farm. See the birds being fed. Free visit (1h30). Tasting. Every evening at 18.00. Tel : 05 65 37 65 67). Visit the Grottes de Cougnac (prehistoric painted caves. Profusion of concretions. Remarkable prehistoric paintings. Tel : 05 65 41 47 54) following direction Sarlat. Return to Gourdon.

GOURDON

Follow the D673, Salviac, Cazals. Make a detour via Les Arques (old fortress of Péchaurié, Ladoux spring, Church of St Laurent - 12th C. - Church of St André - 15th C., Ossip Zadkin Museum, exhibition of sculptures in stone, bronze, terracotta. Cultural and conference centre. Tel : 05 65 22 83 37) taking the D13 to the left in Cazals. Come to Goujounac on the D46. In Goujounac get back on to the D673 and go to Montcabrier. After 4 km on the right make for Bonaguil (a masterpiece of military architecture, 15th and 16th centuries. Historic Monument).

CHÂTEAU DE BONAGUIL

Take the D158 up to the D710 to get to Villefranche du Périgord (12th century bastide. « Maison du Châtaigner, marrons et champignons » Chestnut and Mushroom Museum).

VILLEFRANCHE DU PÉRIGORD

Follow the D57, going via Besse, St Pompont. Leave the D57 and take a right on to the D60 ; go through Daglan. Take the D60, D46, Cénac, Vitrac, Sarlat.

SARLAT

An exceptional architectural heritage : this is the town that has the most listed buildings per square kilometre in Europe. Aquarium, Château de Temniac, Musée automobile, Musée de la Carte Postale. Return to Souillac via D704 and D703.

7 - ST JULIEN, STE MONDANE, DOMME, BEYNAC, MONTFORT...

The other Dordogne, the home of castles and artists...

SOUILLAC

Take the Sarlat road then turn left direction Le Roc, Gourdon. Follow the Dordogne on the D50 to St Julien de Lampon, Ste Mondane (CHÂTEAU DE FÉNELON : birthplace of the Grand Fénelon, Archbishop of Cambrai), Veyrignac. At the junction with the D704, go left. After Groléjac, in La Mouline, turn right on to the D50 again for Domme (LA BASTIDE : this lovely « new town » of the Middle Ages overlooks the magnificent Dordogne Valley. Cave, Musée des Arts et des Traditions Populaires).

DOMME

Go back down to Cénac, continue on the D50 to St Cybranet then go back up towards Beynac via Castelnaud (D57) (Château de Castelnaud, Museum of War in the Middle Ages. Historic Monument) - Walnut Eco museum.

BEYNAC et CAZENAC

in the heart of the Périgord Noir. « one of the most beautiful villages in France ». Castle, church of Cazenac, Beynac Achaeological Park. Return via the other bank of the Dordogne following the D703 : La Roque Gageac («one of the most beautiful villages in France»), Vitrac, Montfort and its castle (grounds, ramparts, find out about its fascinating history), Carsac, Rouffillac (château), Carlux (Cadiot Gardens) and Souillac.

8 - THE PÉRIGORD NOIR...

Along the way, discover the secrets of the Périgord Noir...

SOUILLAC

Take the D15 towards Salignac (the castle ramparts no longer defend the village anchored on its rocky outcrop. This proud vestige of the 12th and 13th centuries is a reminder of the past), then head for Borrèze, take the D62 at the crossroads, then the D60 to the left.

SALIGNAC - EYVIGUES

In Salignac go to the left, direction Carlux, Manoir d'Eyrignac on the D61 (one of the finest formal gardens in France. Guided tour, exhibition, video room. Tel : 05 53 28 99 71).

MANOIR D'EYRIGNAC

Return to Salignac by the same road, as you enter the village turn left and 2 km after the village, take the D61 towards St Geniès, go through this village, a the top of the hill, go right towards Montignac on the D704.

MONTIGNAC

Take the road for les Eyzies de Tayac (Grotte du Grand Roc and prehistoric habitats of Laugerie Basse, an outstanding opportunity to take a journey back in Time : the history of Man and the Earth. National Prehistory Museum in the remains of a late 16th century castle, unique archaeological collections) via the Vézère Valley following the D706 to Thonac.

THONAC

Continue on the D706 to Les Eyzies de Tayac.

LES EYZIES DE TAYAC

Continue on the same road, then on the D703 to Le Bugue (Village du Bournat : the living history of Périgord, go back 100 years on the banks of the Vézère).

LE BUGUE

Go back along the D703, to Campagne and continue on the D703 to Carsac via Saint-Cyprien and Beynac, in the village go right towards Gourdon. In Groléjac, take the D50 towards Veyrignac and Sainte-Mondane and on the right is the Château de Fénelon (14th to 17th century feudal fortress. Guided tour. Tel : 05 53 29 81 45).

CHÂTEAU DE FÉNELON

Return the same way on the D50 and go right towards Le Roc and Souillac.