Lot travel guide

South-east Lot

The south-east of the department follows the meandering Lot Valley between Figeac and Cahors, and largely forms part of the Regional Natural Park of the Causses de Quercy.

Be sure to visit Cahors to see the famous Pont Valentre and a vibrant historical town and Figeac with its extensive historic centre.

Between the two you should also visit St Cirq Lapopie, a very charming village and the town of Cajarc. Close to Figeac we also particularly enjoyed exploring the villages of Capdenac and Faycelles.

One of the most popular attractions here is the village of Cabrerets, in an impressive cliffside setting, and where you can visit the Pech Merle caves, one of the very few caves in France with prehistoric paintings that remains open to the public.

Among the other highlights we recommend in this region are the Gorges at Aujols, Beauregard village, Bouziés to follow the riverside walk below the cliff, Calvignac, Cenevieres castle poised over the Lot river, the market town of Limogne and Sauliac-sur-Célé.

See Lower Lot valley for more scenic highlights between Figeac and Cahors.

South-west Lot

Travelling along the Lot Valley between Cahors and Fumel you will discover the pretty village of Puy l'Eveque, one of the highlights of this region of France and we highly recommend you visit.

You will see many of the cahors vineyards along this picturesque stretch of river and there are many other small places of interest close by including the villages of Belaye, Luzech, Prayssac and Castelfranc.

We also strongly recommend a visit to the Chateau de Bonaguil, on the Lot-et-Garonne border and one of our favourite French castles.

Other villages and highlights in south-west Lot 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. The Lot department around Rocamadour falls within the northern region of 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 you should also visit the amazing caves at Gouffre de Padirac - you 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 other towns that deserve a visit to the north-west of the Lot department, and are often used as bases for exploring both this region and the eastern Dordogne department.

There are lots of other villages and highlights that you will come across in this region including Caniac, Catus, Cavagnac, the bastide town of Cazals, Floirac, Labastide-Murat, the villages of Lherm and Montvalent, the Ouysse valley at Calés, Lacave and Seniergues - but it is perhaps the scenery that will stay longest in your memory!

North-east Lot

In the north-east of the Lot most visits focus around the three villages classified among the 'most beautiful villages of France': Carennac,  Loubressac and Autoire and also a trip to Bretenoux to see the castle of Castelnau-Bretenoux.

A short distance east from here the medieval centre of Saint-Céré is also very pleasant, and you can visit the Grottes de Presques caves nearby. The beautiful Montal chateau (a listed French National Monument) should also feature on your list of places to visit close to here.

Stop to explore Lacapelle-Marival and Cardaillac towards the east of the Lot department en route to reach Figeac, a very lovely and interesting historic town.

Other highlights in the north-east Lot include the castles at Assier and Aynac, the villages of Lamativie and Espedaillac, the views from Labastide-du-Haut-Mont, the castle at Larroque-Toirac and Marcilhac-sur-Cele with its ruined abbey