Cahors
Situated 55 miles (89km) north of Toulouse, in a loop of the Lot
River, the ancient city of Cahors was inhabited long before the
Romans arrived, and in medieval times was a thriving university
town. Across the river is the town's signature piece, the Pont
Valentré. This magnificent fortified bridge was built between 1308
and 1500 and features a trio of towers, battlements and seven
pointed arches. The Cathédrale St-Etienne dominates the old town
and features a Romanesque north portal, which was carved around
1135.
Today the town is best known for its excellent cuisine and the
fine deep red wine that is made in the surrounding vineyards.
Sunday is market day and a good opportunity to buy some of the
local produce. A good excursion from Cahors is the stunning
cliff-edge village of St-Cirq-Lapopie, 19 miles (31km) to the east.
Perched high above the south bank of the Lot, the village, with its
cobbled lanes, half-timbered houses and gardens, is best visited in
the evenings when the tour buses have left and the excellent
restaurants have more tables available to linger over.
Pont Valentre
Accrochoc
Montauban
Montauban lies on the banks of the River Tarn, 50 miles (80km)
north of Toulouse, and is one of the most ancient cities in
southwest France. Its origins date from 1144 when the Count of
Toulouse decided to create a
here as a bulwark against English and French royal
power. The genius of the original medieval town plan is still
obvious in the lovely town centre and, although the suburbs now
sprawl way beyond the old core, the city is still dominated by the
fortified Eglise St-Jacques fort and the 14th-century brick bridge,
Pont Vieux. Montauban has a very attractive old town square and
many of its buildings are constructed out of the red brick, typical
for the region, which makes these old houses appear delightfully
pink. The artist Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres (1780 to 1867) was
born in Montauban and many of his works now hang in Musée Ingres,
situated in the 17th-century Bishops Palace. The works collected
here include the famous
originally intended for Napoleon's bedroom
in Rome. Apart from this art museum there are two religious
monuments worth visiting in Montauban: the 13th-century Church of
Saint Jacques; and the Cathedral of Notre-Dame, built in 1739 in
the Baroque style.
Musee Ingres
Szeder Laszlo
Conques
Conques occupies a spectacular position on the flanks of the
steep, densely wooded gorge of the little River Dourdou, a
tributary of the Lot, and is one of the great villages of southwest
France. The site was chosen as a retreat by a hermit called Dadon
in the 7th century, and was named from the Latin
, meaning shell. Dadon founded a community of
Benedictine monks here, one of whom pilfered the relics of the
martyred girl, Ste Foy, from the monastery at Agen. Known for her
ability to cure blindness and liberate captives, Ste Foy's presence
brought pilgrims flocking to Conques and the magnificent Romanesque
abbey-church became a prime stop on the pilgrimage route to
Compostela in Spain. Pilgrims still come today, along with tourists
who come to admire Conques' beautiful setting. Conques is renowned
to be one of the most beautiful villages in France and parts of the
original town walls and gates survive, sealing in the narrow,
cobbled village streets and the picturesque medieval houses spread
out across the hillside. Conques Abbey was built between the 10th
and 12th centuries, and the church and cloisters are truly
impressive. The tympanum (carving above the main doorway) of the
Last Judgement in the abbey is considered a masterpiece of
12th-century art.
Conques Abbey
Phillip Capper
Rocamadour
Tiered precariously halfway up a cliffside above a small river,
Rocamadour has one of the most unique and breathtaking settings of
any town in Europe. The town is famed for being the site where the
body of Saint Amadour (who is believed to be Zacchaeus of the
Bible) was discovered, an event that led to a succession of
miracles in the town. Since the 8th century it has been an
important pilgrimage site; everyone from prince to pauper has
ventured here in the hope of curing their ailments at the shrine.
Unfortunately, the famous reliquary of the shrine has been
plundered several times so that today it bears little relation to
the original; however, many still testify to the spiritual
significance and healing power of the place.
Today the town is overrun by tourists and its atmosphere has
suffered accordingly, but, despite this, it is a must-see for the
stunning views of the Dordogne and its marvellous situation. The
town has magnificent ancient architecture, with many of the
buildings cut directly into the rock of the cliffs, and is
gloriously picturesque. Balloon rides are a popular way to see the
area. The seven sanctuaries that make up the pilgrimage site are
truly wondrous to behold. Don't miss the famous Black Madonna,
thought to have been carved in the 11th century, which can be found
in the Chapelle Notre Dame, a small Gothic chapel built in
1479.
Rocamadour
Eden Briand
Les Eyzies
In 1868 prehistoric skeletons were discovered in the Vézère
valley, and the area was found to be one of the richest in the
world in terms of ancient sites and deposits. The small market town
of Les Eyzies suddenly became the base for exploring this
treasure-trove of antiquities, including the many prehistoric
painted caves. The most famous and beautiful of these sites is at
Lascaux, discovered by accident in 1940 by boys looking for their
dog. The paintings were made about 30,000 years ago and depict wild
boar, deer and majestic bulls. Unfortunately visitors cannot view
the actual paintings anymore because the caves have been closed to
the general public to prevent deterioration, but a replica gives
visitors a clear picture of the remarkable works. Travellers can
still enter the incredible Cave of Font-de-Gaume and see the
original rock art in this UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town has
some excellent museums in which prehistoric art and artefacts are
on display. Be sure to visit the Chateau de Commarque, a truly
remarkable site boasting the ruins of a 12th-century chateau and
caves containing prehistoric artefacts and paintings.
Lascaux Caves
Peter80
Dordogne experiences fairly mild winters and moderate summers,
which can be long and very warm at times, making it the best time
of year to visit Dordogne and Lot. Average summer daytime highs
range from 77°F to 95°F (25°C to 35°C) with occasional storms and
showers. Spring and autumn are mild with a higher chance of rain,
while in late spring heavy rainfall can occur. Winters are
generally mild with short periods of cold weather and with frequent
rain. The region experiences variations in weather depending on the
local area, due to the variable landscape, and things like rainfall
and temperature can vary from village to village, making conditions
quite unpredictable. No matter what time of year one visits it is a
good idea to take a rain jacket. Summer is peak tourism season but
many visitors find the off-season pleasant in Dordogne and Lot.
Things to see and do in Dordogne and Lot revolve mainly around
the areas many lovely and historic villages. The medieval towns of
Cohors, Conques and Montauban are remarkable and the stone villages
of Domme and La Roque Gageac will captivate all who set foot in
them. The most spectacular, however, is Rocamadour, which has been
a pilgrimage site since the 8th century and has possibly the most
breathtaking setting of any town in Europe. This cliffside town is
fascinating and is one of the region's greatest treasures.
Visitors can easily do a tour of Dordogne and Lot
centred only on chateaux as there are so many exciting castles
scattered about. Some of the best are the Chateau de Castelnaud,
which houses a wonderful museum of medieval warfare; the Chateau de
Commarque, a ruined 12th-century chateau with caves containing
evidence of prehistoric man; and the Chateau de Beynac, a very
impressive castle perched above the restored medieval town of
Beynac and commanding beautiful views over the river. The Chateau
de Marqueyssac pales in comparison to these fortresses but it has
gorgeous gardens and cliffside walks which makes it popular.
Dordogne is one of the richest areas in the world in
terms of ancient sites and evidence of prehistoric man. The famous
painted caves of Lascaux are regrettably no longer open to the
public but there are equally impressive sites to explore, including
the incredible Cave of Font-de-Gaume which is a UNESCO World
Heritage Site.