Frespech is a fortified village situated in the quiet countryside to the south-east of Villeneuve-sur-Lot in the centre of the Lot-et-Garonne department.
Exploring Frespech
France This Way review: the village of Frespech is one of those pretty villages that you are very pleased to come across as you explore - but as it is so small it is perhaps not worth travelling a great distance to visit.
Wander through the stone entrance gate through the defensive walls of Frespech and straight away you will see the main attraction in the village - a lovely eleventh century church with a square bell-tower and a smaller round chevet, which is generally considered to be one of the most impressive examples of roman style religious monuments in the region.
Note in particular the roof, made from great slabs of stone called lauze - these original lauze roofs are now very unusual. Inside the church (although the church isn't always unlocked) there are some interesting carved stone capital stones, paving slabs that show the wear of hundreds of years of visitors, and a simple yet perfectly proportioned stone altar area.
To the right of the entrance to Frespech is a grassy courtyard surrounded by further remains of the ramparts, which date from the 13th and 14th centuries, another stone gateway, and a few small stone buildings.
On one side of these is the Taulejada restaurant (itself in a 13th century building) which specialises in Foie Gras. The Foie Gras comes from the Frespech Foie Gras farm and museum which is a couple of kilometres down the road.
To the left of the stone entrance gate is an imposing building with a lovely round corner turret from one of the upstairs rooms. Otherwise there are only a few other buildings inside the stone walls of Frespech and these are an attractive mixture of ruins and renovated buildings. Although the village is very small a visit is recommended.
The area around Frespech
This relatively undiscovered region of south-west France has few 'important' monuments, but instead has numerous small villages and towns each with their own individual appeal. Among our personal favourites are Laroque-Timbaut and Penne-d-Agenais. For other roman churches in the immediate region we suggest that you visit the churches at Lacor, Le Bugat and Saint-Maurin - all to the south-east of Frespech.
If you are travelling with children who find it all a bit quiet here in the countryside take them to the very popular Parc Walibi Theme park near Agen for the day to burn off a bit of energy!
You can find more travel ideas in the Lot-et-Garonne guide and the Aquitaine guide.
Photos of Frespech
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Hotels in Frespech
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Map of Frespech and places nearby
Visit near Frespech with France This Way reviews
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Address: Frespech, Penne-d'Agenais, Villeneuve-sur-Lot, Aquitaine, 47140, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 44.3108, longitude 0.825556
Plan your visit to Frespech, Lot-et-Garonne
Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby
- Eglise Notre Dame (Frespech): religious monument
- Eglise de Notre-Dame (Lacour): religious monument (10 km)
- Grottes de Fontirou: site of natural beauty (11 km)
- Abbaye de Saint Maurin (Saint-Maurin): religious monument (13 km)
- Pujols: most beautiful village (14 km)
- Agen cathédrale St Caprais (monuments on French pilgrim routes): heritage site (20 km)
- Eglise de Sainte Livrade (Sainte-Livrade-sur-Lot): religious monument (21 km)
- Eglise de Saint Martin (Layrac): religious monument (23 km)
- Monflanquin: most beautiful village (25 km)
- Ets Latour-Marliac: remarkable garden (25 km)
- Prieuré de Sainte Marie (Moirax): religious monument (25 km)
- Jardin du Pèlerin: remarkable garden (26 km)
The French version of this page is at Frespech (Francais)