Cahors, its vineyards and the Valentré bridge

Beautifully lodged in one of the many meanders of the Lot river that forms a peninsula, the capital of the Lot department (and formerly capital of Quercy) is an absolute must-see whose origins date back to Gallo-Roman times. The amphitheatre and Roman baths remains to tell but a few are still there to prove the existence of Cahors at the time of ancient Rome. In the Middle Ages, Cahors became a rich and prosperous town; a stroll in the historic center will unveil the treasures of the period such as the Saint-Etienne Cathedral and the Pont Valentré. The latter is a showpiece as it has become the symbol of the town over the centuries. The first stone of the building was laid in 1308 and the construction took almost 70 years until its completion in 1378. The Pont Valentré was intended as a fortification to defend the city. With its 3 towers and arches preceded by acute starlings, it is a wonderful example of medieval defense architecture and is now classified as a Historic Monument and has also been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998 in the context of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela. Legend has it that the architect, unable to overcome his work, resorted to making a pact with the Devil in person in order to complete the bridge.

The magnificent doors on rue Nationale and rue du Château du Roi are reminiscent of the classical and Renaissance era of the city. After strolling through the picturesque streets and feasting your eyes upon the charm of the 25 secret gardens scattered throughout the city, do not miss an opportunity to take a break and enjoy a glass of Cahors wine on a terrace! The Cahors region has an exceptional vineyard thanks to its emblematic grape variety: Malbec. The Cahors vineyard is one of the oldest in Europe and owes its location to the Romans. Spread across some 45 towns, the vineyard now totals 4,200 hectares and its reputation goes far beyond the borders of the country. Cahors wines have the French AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) label and are exclusively red wines (they go deliciously with local products such as truffles, ceps and game meat).

Photo credit: Cahors by Cahors Tourist Office

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Rocamadour and the Natural Park of Causses du Quercy

Real architectural wonderwork, Rocamadour never stops to amaze those who enter the lair of its stones. Clinging to the cliff at 150 meters high, this village carved out into the rock face overlooks the canyon where the Alzou river winds. Its vertiginous construction is organized in 3 levels dating from its medieval time and reflecting the 3 orders of society. Already sparking interest in the twelfth century, Rocamadour attracted many visitors well beyond the borders including Henry II of England, Blanche of Castile, Saint Dominic, etc. The city became a place of pilgrimage and remarkable religious buildings sprouted up, among which the Basilica of Saint-Sauveur and the crypt Saint-Amadour with its relics, both classified UNESCO world heritage sites, as well as 7 chapels including the Notre-Dame chapel which houses a Black Madonna that has been venerated for over a thousand years and where is also still stuck Durendal, Roland’s famous sword. To access it : a monumental staircase of 216 steps. According to custom, it used to be climbed on one knee after having strode along the only tortuous street of the village, the indeed rue de la Couronnerie. If pilgrims are no longer as frequently encountered, nearly 1.5 million onlookers cross the porte du Figuier at the entrance of the village each year, making the citadel of the Faith one of the most visited sites in France. Finally, like a crown sitting on these sanctuaries, the castle built at the top of the rock reveals from its ramparts an extraordinary panorama on the Natural Park of Causses du Quercy, which surrounds it.

Classified as a UNESCO Global Geopark since May 2017, this park offers adventurers an exceptional area of discovery with its lush flora and fauna, oak forests, rocky limestone plateaus, gorges, green valleys and natural meadows dotted with dolmens, old mills and small bridges. Whether walking or cycling through the limestone barrens covered with dry lawns or sailing or canoeing on the river, the Natural Park of Causses du Quercy promises breathtaking outings for everyone! But that’s not all: at the heart of the park is also the best sky in France! It is one of the best preserved areas from light pollution in the country, also called “the black triangle of Quercy” because of its shape. A good reason to aim for the stars!

Photo credit: Rocamadour by John McLinden

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Sarlat

Located in the heart of the Black Perigord, Sarlat-la-Canéda is a jewel in the crown of medieval architecture, with exceptional historical monuments. The city holds the European record of classified monuments per square meter. With its yellow stone buildings topped with slate roofs, Sarlat has a unique charm and a historical wealth that is reflected in its small, vibrant cobbled streets. Just like the rest of Southwest France, Sarlat is a town where life is good. World renowned for its gastronomy, the town has plenty of tasty regional specialties to offer such as foie gras and confit, but also truffles, ceps, walnuts, chestnuts, strawberries or honey. It is even easier to discover these local products as the rhythm of life in town has been closely tied to the succession of markets since the Middle Ages. And nowadays, market day is still a real institution! Every Wednesday and Saturday, the streets and squares in the town turn into a gigantic gastronomy Hall of Fame! So gourmets and gluttons alike will undoubtedly relish strolling between the colourful stalls from which emanate delicious aromas!

Photo credit: Sarlat by Jean-Marie Clausse

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The Dordogne Valley, its caves and castles

With its prehistoric caves that bear testament to the presence of the first men thousands of years ago, the Dordogne Valley can be considered one of the cradles of humanity. The best known are undoubtedly the Lascaux Caves, with the original one, closed to the public since 1963, being a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In order to admire the masterpieces achieved at the time of Cro-Magnon Man, Lascaux II, III and IV respectively opened their doors in 1983, 2012 and 2016 and show visitors magnificent reproductions of the wonders of the Lascaux Cave.

The Pech Merle Cave is also worth a visit, being one of the few caves still open to the public where you can admire the original paintings, dating back around 25,000 years ago. The Prehistoric Cave of Wonders located in Rocamadour also offers a fantastic journey through the ages, with its rock paintings dating back more than 20,000 years ago.

The Dordogne Valley is also famous for its castles and will delight all old stone buildings enthusiasts. Do not miss the legendary places such as Château de Castelnau-Bretenoux and Château de Montal in the Lot department, as well as Château de Beynac, Château de Castelnaud and Château des Milandes, known to have been Joséphine Baker’s property, in the Dordogne department.

One cannot present the Dordogne Valley without referring to its magnificent villages and among them the medieval town of Rocamadour, La Roque-Gageac and its barges, Saint-Céré or indeed “the little Venice of the Lot”, Martel called “The City of 7 Towers”, Souillac and its 7 viaducts, not forgetting Collonges-la-Rouge and Curemonte in Corrèze, as well as Autoire, Carennac and Louressac in the Lot, which rank among five of the “most beautiful villages of France”.

And last but not least, how not to mention the richness of the landscapes, the idyllic setting and the preserved nature that the Dordogne river offers, the only one in France to be classified World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO!

Photo credit: The Dordogne Valley by Dordogne Valley Tourist Office

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The Vézère Valley and the Lascaux caves

The Vézère is a river that springs in the Massif Central but only in the heart of the Dordogne, in Black Périgord, where it winds in between the limestone cliffs topped by oak and chestnut tree forests, does it lend its name to a valley which roughly extends across thirty kilometres. If the Vézère valley is home to many picturesque villages and 675 kilometres of marked trails through stunning landscapes, it owes its world reputation to its innumerable prehistoric treasures. In total, no less than 147 archeological sites including 37 caves and ornate shelters and 15 UNESCO World Heritage sites are grouped in this absolute shrine of prehistoric art, bearing testament to a more than 400,000 year-old human occupation. Each of them is of exceptional interest from an ethnological, anthropological and aesthetic point of view, making the Vézère Valley one of the most important archaeological sites in Europe. The most famous prehistorians have studied and carried out excavations there, uncovering hundreds of thousands of artistic, lithic and bone remains, not to mention the discovery of the famous Cro-Magnon man in Les Eyzies de Tayac-Sireuil, since appointed world capital of prehistory.

Considered as one of the most remarkable sites of the Vézère Valley, the Lascaux cave was accidentally found by 4 teenagers from Montignac in 1940. Later dubbed “Sistine Chapel of the parietal art”, its 235 meters of walls are ornate with nearly 1900 animal figures. The ingenuity of the techniques, the precision of the observation, the variety of shades and the liveliness of the finish make them some astonishing masterpieces which have marked the history of knowledge of parietal art in the Upper Paleolithic time. Divided into 7 galleries (the Hall of the Bulls, the Axial Gallery, the Passage, the Nave, the Chamber of Felines, the Apse and the Shaft), the Lascaux cave has been closed to the public since 1963 in order to preserve all of this priceless treasure. An exact reproduction of the Hall of the Bulls and the Axial Gallery, Lascaux II, was nevertheless opened in 1983 just 200 meters away from the site to allow the 250,000 annual visitors to contemplate about 90% of the striking paintings and engravings of Lascaux. While Lascaux III is a touring copy, Lascaux IV, or international centre for cave art, reveals since 2016 an integral facsimile reproduction put back in context and explained thoroughly in order not to miss anything of this 18 000 year-old wealth.

Photo credit: Lascaux by Claude Vallette

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