Lot

South-east Lot

Along the meandering Lot Valley between Figeac and Cahors you should visit St Cirq Lapopie, a charming village, and the town of Cajarc. At either end of the valley, visit Cahors to see the famous Pont Valentre and a vibrant lively town with much of interest to discover and Figeac with its extensive historic centre.

See Lower Lot valley for a guide to the scenic highlights between the two.

The Lot is a region with many small 'uncharted' villages to discover as you travel around - some of the villages and highlights in this part of the Lot department include the Gorges at Aujols, Beauregard village, Bouziés, the spectacular setting for Cabrerets, Cajarc, Calvignac, Cenevieres castle, poised over the Lot river, the market town of Limogne and Sauliac-sur-Célé, and Faycelles further east.

South-west Lot

Continue along the Lot Valley to the pretty village of Puy l'Eveque on the River east of Fumel - it is one of the highlights of this region of France and a visit is highly recommended.

There are many other small places of interest along and close to this stretch of the river, including the villages of Belaye, Luzech, Prayssac and Castelfranc.

Other villages and highlights include Albas, Castelnau-Montratier, Douelle and Montcuq.

North-west Lot

The landscape here has a lot in common with its next-door neighbour - the Dordogne. Much of the central - northern part of the Lot department around Rocamadour falls within the Causses de Quercy Regional Natural Park with its own special beauty, as the rivers have carved there way through the limestone to create numerous wooded valleys and gorges.

The attractive 'pilgrimage' village at Rocamadour is said to be the second most visited site in France (after Mont-Saint-Michel) - and is one of the key places to visit when you come to the Lot department.

Nearby visit the amazing caves at Gouffre de Padirac - start your underground exploration in a boat, which is great fun! See also Martel, the medieval town a little to the north, and Gramat - a lively town to the south-east of Rocamadour.

Gourdon and Souillac are towns that deserve a visit to the north-west of the Lot department, and often used as bases for exploring both this region and the eastern Dordogne department.

Other villages and highlights include Caniac village, Catus, Cavagnac, Cazals bastide town, Floirac, Labastide-Murat, Lherm village, the medieval centre of Saint-Céré (and the Grotte de Presques caves), Montvalent village and setting, the Ouysse valley at Calés, Lacave etc and Seniergues. See also Chateau de Bonaguil, on the Lot-et-Garonne border

North-east Lot

In the north-east of the Lot are Carennac, also Loubressac and Autoire (all three 'most beautiful villages') and also the town of Bretenoux.

Pass through Lacapelle-Marival and Cardaillac towards the east of the Lot department to reach Figeac, a quaint and interesting historic town to visit.

Saint-Céré also has an interesting medieval centre, and the beautiful Montal chateau (a listed French National Monument) should also feature on your list of places to visit in the Lot.

Other villages and highlights include the castles at Assier and Aynac, Bretenoux bastide village, Capdenac, Cardaillac (a beautiful village), Espedaillac village, the views from Labastide-du-Haut-Mont, Lacapelle-Marival, Lamativie, the castle at Larroque-Toirac and Marcilhac-sur-Cele.