Ideas for some days out:

By Car:

This tour takes you up one valley to Figeac and Capdenac-le-Haut, and then back down the other - a round trip of some 90 miles. This interactive map will help you plan your day. It takes a while to load - please be patient! From the map, you can access a number of further web-sites, which describe each area in more detail. A flag indicates the language of the site. Don't be put off if a site is in french, and your french is a bit rusty: there are usually plenty of photos, which will give you a good idea of what there is to see.

The closest local attractions are the medieval cliff-top village of St. Cirq Lapopie and the prehistoric caves of Pech Merle. Carved out of the limestone, and decorated 25,000 years ago, Pech Merle, with its prehistoric paintings and eerily beautiful rock formations, is 8 miles east of the gite. (Cross the river, turn right onto the D662 and follow signs for Cabrerets - where you could visit the local castle - and then turn left following signs to Pech Merle). Be sure to book ahead in season, as tours are restricted (Tel: 0565.31.27.05). And take warm clothing, as the caves are a permanent 12 degrees celsius.

St. Cirq Lapopie, listed as one of 'Les plus beaux villages de France', is also 8 miles to the east of the gite. A huddle of medieval half-timbered stone houses clinging to the cliffs 330 ft. above the river Lot, it is an impressive sight. For the best views, approach the village from Tour de Faure (cross the river, turn right onto the D662 and then turn right again just after entering Tour de Faure); return via the D40, which will take you down to Bouzies, on a road which hugs the cliffs, giving you panoramic vistas over the gorge.

The wine country lies mainly to the west, the other side of Cahors. You can combine wine-buying and tasting with visits to castles such as Bonaguil,or Grézels. Click here for a map.

No visit to the area would be complete without visiting the picturesque hanging village of Rocamadour, with its castle, shrine, museum, caves - and, for the animal-lovers, its bee-house, collection of birds of prey and monkeys. If you have the time, take in the impressive 'Gouffre de Padirac', which is just a few miles east of Rocamadour. The 'Gouffre' is a huge swallow-hole in the limestone plateau, with a series of caves off it, which you get to by boat on a subterranean river.

There's something for everyone in this tour, which combines a trip to the renaissance Montal Castle, the beautiful caves of Presque (which are just down the road from Montal) and the house of painter and tapestry-maker Jean Lurçat, in Saint-Laurent-les-Tours, next to St. Céré. If you have time, take in the imposing castle of Castelnau-Bretenoux as well - and don't miss the lovely oratory church next door, with its delightful 15th century wood-carvings. Plan your route to take in one or more of the three 'plus beaux villages de France' which are also in the area: Loubressac, Autoire and Carennac.

On your way up to Sarlat - which has more listed buildings per square kilometre than anywhere else in Europe - stop by in the bastide village of Domme, and enjoy a panoramic view over the Dordogne valley from the Belvedere. Then go on to explore the stunning little village of La Roque Gageac which hugs the cliffs next to the river Dordogne.

By Train:

Let the train take the strain! Quercyrail used to run a delightful old-fashioned train service between Cahors and Capdenac, offering tours of the Lot valley as far as Cajarc, some 30 miles to the east, as well as combined boat and rail tours and a trip to the castle of Cénevières. Regrettably, at the time of writing, the future of Quercyrail seems uncertain, due to financial problems.

Both Cahors and Figeac also run little tourist-trains, which pootle through the streeets, giving you a good (and relaxing!) introduction to each city. The Cahors train starts from the car-park next to the Pont Valentré.

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By Boat:

You can cruise the river Lot, boarding at Bouziès, just behind the Hotel Les Falaises, for a tour which will take you past the lovely hanging village of St Cirq-Lapopie, or take the Le Schmilblic tour, which starts at Cajarc, and will take you past the castles of Salvagnac, and Montbrun.

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On Foot:

A lovely local walk is along the Chemin de Halage - the old river-boat towpath - which is cut into the overhanging cliffs along the banks of the Lot between Bouziès and St. Cirq Lapopie. There's a good choice of other local walks, lovingly described, with maps and photos, on the randonnées-lotoises.net site.

Both Cahors and Figeac have an old medieval part - la vieille ville - which you can wander round on foot. Follow these links for a virtual tour of Cahors and Figeac.

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