Lot-et-Garonne

  • Monflanquin
    The medieval bastide town of Monflanquin is also listed among the 'most beautiful villages in France'
  • Château de Bonaguil
    The castle at Bonaguil is among the most imposing to be found anywhere in France, and is surrounded by beautiful wooded valleys
  • Agen
    Although most visited for the very popular Park Walibi theme park, the town of Agen itself also has some interesting buildings to discover

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Visit Lot-et-Garonne, France

Lot-et-Garonne is perhaps the France that you always hoped existed but could never quite find - medieval villages and sunflower fields, quiet roads and small farms in gently rolling countryside. One of the 'best kept secrets' in France!

General info

Lot-et-Garonne: an introduction

The Lot-et-Garonne department is situated in south-west France to the south of the Dordogne and north of Gascony. It forms part of the Aquitaine region of France.

General information

Monflanquin

The landscape of the north-eastern Lot-et-Garonne department is similar in appearance to the Dordogne region to the north, with a mix of wooded slopes, small scale farming and some forested areas.

To the south it becomes more like Gascony, with gently rolling fields and quiet roads passing through lovely countryside.

Everywhere in the department you will find quiet roads through fields of sunflowers, traditional market towns and small picturesque villages, and orchards - typically of plum trees grown for the delicious pruneaux d'Agen, a local speciality.

North Lot-et-Garonne

Allemans-du-DroptThe north-east of the Lot-et-Garonne has easy access to the highlights of the southern Dordogne (such as prehistoric sites, caves and castles) plus the beautiful bastide towns such as Monflanquin and Villereal are here, along with nearby Castillonnes.

The valley of the Dropt runs along the northern edge of the Lot-et-Garonne department as you head west from Villereal, with other places to visit along the Dropt Valley including Miramont-de-Guyenne, the castle at Lauzun, and the 15th century frescoes in the church at Allemans-du-Dropt.

Lot-et-Garonne castles

Chateau BonaguilThere are several particularly notable castles to visit, and by chance they are quite close together in the north-east part of the department. One of our favourite castles in France is at Chateau Bonaguil and another impressive castle is close by at Chateau Biron.

Also very interesting is the ancient fort and donjon at Gavaudun, a small village in the picturesque Gavaudun valley, and a more recent castle can be seen at Duras.

Heading south passed Villeneuve-sur-Lot be sure to visit the small medieval village of Pujols, and near neighbour Penne d'Agenais, also the traditional village at Frespech and the bastide of Tournon d'Agenais.

See Bastide towns and the Dropt valley and Villeneuve-sur-Lot and quiet villages for places to visit

South Lot-et-Garonne

AgenEven further south past Villeneuve-sur-Lot and around Agen the Lot-et-Garonne is often equally beautiful but without the tourist levels or important sites and monuments you will find in the north of the department.

Agen itself is perhaps best known for being close to the popular theme park at Walibi but also has several of its own historical treasures. The region around Agen, quite undiscovered by most visitors, is one of our favourite areas for a peaceful getaway.

There are also a good number of small villages and quiet market towns largely undiscovered by tourism to explore to the south of the department, including Nérac and Casteljaloux, and nearby Barbaste.

The small towns and villages of the 'Pays Agenais' of south-eastern Lot-et-Garonne (on the border with Tarn-et-Garonne) include Laroque-Timbaut, Beauville and Puymirol and Caudecoste. To the far south of the department it merges into ancient Gascony, while to the south-west we see the start of the enormous forests of the Landes department.

See Agen and the south for places to visit

Overall

Laroque-TimbautTo sum up the appeal of the area, Lot-et-Garonne is a very good choice for a holiday in France if quiet appreciation of nature and the chance to relax away from crowds is your priority.

Above all it is a department for relaxing, quiet country walks, and is great cycling country. There are more 'sights' (bastide towns, castles etc) towards the north-east, less tourists and quieter roads further south.

It is also a good choice if you want to see the sights of the Dordogne but prefer to stay in the north of the Lot et Garonne department to avoid the crowds along the Dordogne river.

Note: we lived in Lot-et-Garonne for 11 years and travelled far and wide in France with our work for France This Way, but it still remains one of our favourite regions in the country!

North

Allemans-du-Dropt

Among other places of interest here in Allemans-du-Dropt be sure to admire the impressive medieval frescoes in the church

See Allemans-du-Dropt

Castillonnes

Castillonnes is very much a traditional small French market town

See Castillonnes

Chateau de Bonaguil

Surely one of the most imposing castles in France, a visit to the medieval Chateau de Bonaguil is highly recommended

See Chateau de Bonaguil

Chateau de Gavaudun

The Chateau de Gavaudun has a very imposing donjon - for those who are not scared of heights!

See Chateau de Gavaudun

Duras

Duras is best known for both the castle in the centre of the town, and the impressive wines produced in the surrounding area

See Duras

Lauzun

Lauzun is a small town in the Dropt valley best known for its castle

See Lauzun

Miramont-de-Guyenne

Stop for a stroll through the arcaded centre of Miramont as you explore the Dropt valley

See Miramont-de-Guyenne

Monflanquin

Listed as one of the 'most beautiful villages in France' Monflanquin has far reaching views from its hilltop position

See Monflanquin

Villereal

The 13th century bastide town at villereal retains many historic buildings and an imposing medieval market hall

See Villereal

Central

Beauville

Beauville is a picturesque small town with several historical buildings in the heart of the Lot-et-Garonne

See Beauville

Chateau de Fumel

While lacking important sites, if you visit Fumel you can look across the river from the castle terraces

See Chateau de Fumel

Frespech

Frespech is a small but very lovely fortified village in the heart of the countryside

See Frespech

Laroque-Timbaut

The medieval heart of Laroque-Timbaut is very small - and very scenic

See Laroque-Timbaut

Penne d'Agenais

A very pretty village dominated by a (recent) basilica, Penne d'Agenais also has lovely views across the countryside

See Penne d'Agenais

Pujols

Although small, the village of Pujols is very lovely, listed as a 'most beautiful village in France', and highly recommended

See Pujols

Tournon d'Agenais

Tournon d'Agenais is one of the most inviting villages in the central part of the Lot-et-Garonne

See Tournon d'Agenais

Villeneuve-sur-Lot

The market town at Villeneuve-sur-Lot is best known for the picturesque houses along the river front

See Villeneuve-sur-Lot

 

South

Agen

Agen is the prefecture town for the Lot-et-Garonne and also close to the well known theme park at Parc Walibi

See Agen

Barbaste

The main attraction in Barbaste is an imposing 13th century water mill and 12th century bridge across the river

See Barbaste

Casteljaloux

The town of Casteljaloux makes for a pleasant stroll when you are in the region

See Casteljaloux

Mezin

The small medieval town of Mezin is very much traditional of those in the southern Lot-et-Garonne

See Mezin

Nerac

Best known for its castle, Nérac also has several other interesting historical buildings to discover

See Nerac

Poudenas

Although small Poudenas has a castle and several other sites of interest

See Poudenas

Puymirol

Puymirol is the oldest bastide town in Lot-et-Garonne and has preserved several important medieval buildings

See Puymirol

Villeneuve de Mezin

The small village of Villeneuve-sur-Mezin is usually visited for its unusual 12th century fortified church

See Villeneuve de Mezin

Markets

Market towns & days in Lot-et-Garonne

all markets in morning unless otherwise stated

Agen: Wednesday & Sunday & Saturday
Aiguillon: Tuesday & Friday
Astaffort: Monday
Bon-Encontre: Sunday
Cancon: Monday
Casteljaloux: Tuesday & Saturday
Castelmoron-sur-Lot: Wednesday
Castillonnes: Friday (high season only)
Castillonnes: Tuesday
Duras: Thursday (high season only)
Duras: Saturday & Monday
Lavardac: Wednesday
Layrac: Friday
Mezin: Sunday
Miramont-de-Guyenne: Monday
Miramont-de-Guyenne: Friday (high season only)
Monflanquin: Thursday
Monsempron-Libos: Thursday
Nerac: Saturday
Pujols: Sunday
Saint-Sylvestre-sur-Lot: Saturday
Sainte-Livrade-sur-Lot: Friday
Sauveterre-la-Lemance: Wednesday (high season only)
Tonneins: Wednesday & Saturday
Villereal: Saturday
Villereal: Wednesday (high season only)

Highlights

Selected tourist destinations in the Lot-et-Garonne department

The following sites have received official "tourist classifications"...

Theme Park

Walibi Aquitaine :

Secteur Sauvegardé (protected historical town centre)

Nerac :

Religious Monuments

Abbaye de Saint Maurin (Saint-Maurin) :

Eglise de Saint Martin (Layrac) :

Eglise de Sainte Livrade (Sainte-Livrade-sur-Lot) :

Eglise de Sainte Marie (Aubiac) :

Eglise Notre Dame (Frespech) :

Prieuré de Sainte Marie (Moirax) :

Villages classified as "most beautiful villages"

Monflanquin :

Pujols :

UNESCO world heritage sites

Agen cathédrale St Caprais (monuments on French pilgrim routes) :

Map

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French version: Lot-et-Garonne (Francais)

More information

Explore all departments in the Aquitaine region

- Dordogne- Gironde- Landes
- Lot-et-Garonne
- Pyrenees-Atlantiques

To help with your travel planning we have divided the attractions by region and category:

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