Gourdon is not only the capital of the Bouriane region, it's also a medieval town with a fascinating church and old town. Its 14th century fortified gateway leads visitors to Rue du Majou and the buildings lining the street. There's a viewing platform at the top of the town with fabulous views of the town and its picturesque surroundings. The Bouriane region is famous for its chestnut and hazelnut trees.

Dominated by its seven towers, Martel is a medieval town boasting a rich architectural heritage. Its mansions, such as the Raymondie mansion and its bell tower, its charming old residences, its Gothic church, its covered market hall on the main square and its pleasant narrow streets make it a must when visiting the Quercy.

Perched on a rocky spur in the Black Périgord, the bastide of Domme rises approximately 150 metres above the Dordogne Valley. Listed among the Most Beautiful Villages of France, this honey-coloured stone town offers superb views from the Barre Esplanade over the river’s meanders, La Roque-Gageac, Beynac-et-Cazenac and Montfort Castle.

Founded in 1281 by King Philip III, known as “the Bold,” this royal bastide was adapted to the contours of the plateau. Its streets, which mostly intersect at right angles, lead to Market Hall Square, Rode Square and the ramparts, which are listed as Historic Monuments. Towers Gate, flanked by two imposing 14th-century towers, features several hundred old examples of graffiti, traditionally attributed to imprisoned Knights Templar, although this origin has not been proven.

As you stroll around, you will discover the ramparts, Del Bos and Combe Gates, the washhouse, the remains of Roy Castle, Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption Church and beautiful medieval and Renaissance residences. The Paul Reclus Museum, awarded the Museums of France designation in 2003, traces the history of the Domme region from prehistoric times to the modern era through archaeological artefacts and tools from traditional trades.

Beneath Market Hall Square lies Domme Cave, discovered in 1912. Its approximately 450-metre guided route descends 20 metres beneath the bastide, winding among stalactites, flowstone curtains and pools, before returning to the village via a panoramic lift. A light jacket is recommended, as the underground temperature remains between 13 and 15°C. Every Thursday, the market also showcases local produce from Périgord.

Nearby, Sarlat-la-Canéda is about twelve kilometres away, while La Roque-Gageac, Castelnaud-la-Chapelle and Beynac-et-Cazenac provide wonderful opportunities to continue exploring the Dordogne Valley.

Set on the heights of Salignac-Eyvigues, thirteen kilometres from Sarlat-la-Canéda, the Gardens of Eyrignac Manor extend across ten hectares of landscaped compositions in the heart of a 200-hectare wooded estate. Awarded the Remarkable Garden designation, the ensemble formed by the manor, its outbuildings and its gardens has been listed as a historic monument since 2016. This Black Périgord property has been home to 22 successive generations of the same family.

Rebuilt between 1653 and 1660 after the former castle was destroyed during the Fronde, the manor features elegant Périgord architecture in golden stone, topped with high slate-covered roofs. A formal garden was laid out in the 18th century before being transformed into an English-style park in the 19th century. From 1965 onwards, Gilles Sermadiras completely redesigned the grounds: in the absence of any old plans, he drew on a few remains found on the site and created a personal work inspired by French and Italian gardens from the 16th to the 18th centuries. The gardens have been open to the public since 1987, while the manor, which is still inhabited, is not included in the standard visit.

More than 300 plant sculptures, shaped by hand from boxwood, yew, hornbeam, cypress and ivy, punctuate the vistas, reflecting pools and fountains. The Hornbeam Walk, approximately 100 metres long, the Vase Walk, the embroidered parterres of the French formal garden and the boxwood maze illustrate this remarkable mastery of topiary art. The walk also reveals the white rose garden and its flowering garlands, the spring garden, the vegetable garden, the flower garden and four country garden plots: the Wanderers’ Garden, the Intoxication Plot, the Daughters of the Wind Garden and the Reflection of the Sky. The topiary farmyard, populated by geese, rabbits, a peacock and other boxwood animals, is particularly popular with children.

Open all year round, the gardens generally take an hour and a half to explore. Two botanical trails, measuring 2.5 and 4.5 kilometres, extend the visit into the woodland estate. A shaded car park, picnic area, shop and seasonal restaurant are located at the entrance; dogs on leads are welcome. The route is accessible to pushchairs, while some of the paths are adapted for visitors with reduced mobility.

Thirteen kilometres to the south-west, Sarlat-la-Canéda offers a delightful opportunity to continue exploring the Black Périgord.

Sacred town and important pilgrimage site, the village of Rocamadour is perched on the side of a limestone cliff and towers majestically over the Alzou canyon. What a wild and unspoiled environment! Famous for its sanctuaries and more especially for its Black Virgin, Rocamadour attracts every year a large number of visitors and pilgrims. Moreover, the village of Rocamadour is the second most visited attraction in France after Mont-Saint-Michel! Having climbed 216 stairs of the main staircase leading to the church square, pilgrims and walkers discover the seven sanctuaries of Rocamadour, among which the Notre-Dame chapel, the Saint-Sauveur basilica and the Saint-Michel chapel. Unmissable, the Notre-Dame chapel or miracles chapel contains a statue of the Black Virgin dating from the 12th century. Near this chapel is Saint-Amadour's tomb. The former popes' palace, whose entrance is also situated on the square, is home to the Sacred Art museum and its collection of religious works from the town. From the top of the medieval village, or to be precise off the ramparts of the ancient fort, the view of all of Rocamadour, the Alzou canyon and the unspoiled landscapes surroundings the Regional Nature Park of the Quercy Limestone Plateaus is amazing.

In Rocamadour, walkers can also admire beautiful mineral concretions, as well as 20,000 year-old cave drawings during the visit of the Cave of Marvels (Grotte des Merveilles).

Situated in the heart of the Black Périgord, Sarlat-la-Canéda is an essential place to visit for the architecture fans. Its medieval old town is the perfect place to wander around with its maze of picturesque narrow streets and Gothic and Renaissance mansions, such as the Plamon mansion, the Magnanat mansion, and the Vassal mansion. The Saturday market is particularly lively and should not be missed!

Twelve kilometres from Sarlat-la-Canéda, La Roque-Gageac stretches along a narrow strip of land between the Dordogne River and an imposing south-facing limestone cliff. A member of the Most Beautiful Villages of France association, this village in the Black Périgord reveals golden-stone houses, stone-slab roofs, cobbled lanes and narrow passageways offering beautiful views over the valley.

From the Middle Ages onwards, this naturally defensive position encouraged the development of a fortified settlement overlooking navigation on the river. The cave fort, developed in several phases between the Early Middle Ages and the 12th and 13th centuries, features a moat, arrow slits, loopholes and a wall walk, all part of its defensive system. Reached by a staircase running along the cliff face, it offers a 180° panoramic view over the Dordogne River. Below stands Tarde Manor, built in the 15th century, whose façades and roofs are listed as a Historic Monument. This private property can be admired from the outside. The village was also marked by the 1957 rockslide, which destroyed several houses and claimed three lives.

Near Saint-Donat Church, a former Romanesque castle chapel, the microclimate allows an astonishing exotic garden to thrive. Palm trees, banana plants, fig trees, cacti, bamboo and citrus trees grow freely along the lanes and terraces. On the Dordogne River, traditional flat-bottomed boats recall the former port, which from the 15th century onwards was used to ship timber, wine, walnut oil and barrels to Bordeaux. Today, a guided cruise offers views of the village’s built-up riverfront from the water. Good to know: the lower part of the village is the most accessible, while the upper lanes and the fort feature slopes, uneven cobblestones and numerous steps.

Nearby, Castelnaud and Beynac Castles, as well as the fortified town of Domme, offer further opportunities to explore the landscapes and heritage of the Dordogne Valley.

A former viscountcy now registered on the list of the most beautiful villages in France, the town of Turenne has kept many traces of its rich medieval past: the 13th-century castle, the Seneschal's house, the Mauriolles door and the Canons' house are among the remarkable reminders of its history.

Lovers of old buildings can't fail to be thrilled by a walk around the village, along the steep, narrow streets lined with pretty houses that will lead you up to the majestic castle perched on top of the hill. The fiefdom of the Lords of Turenne, this historic monument is open to any visitors wishing to explore its imposing remains. You are greeted by two high towers separated by a magnificently flowery garden: the Treasure tower, an old 14th-century keep housing a lovely guardroom with a pointed arch vault; and the Caesar tower, an old 13th-century watchtower which offers a superb view over the surrounding green countryside from the top of its spiral staircase.

Further down from the castle, you can discover the Capuchins' monastery chapel, now restored and used as an exhibition space, and the 17th-century Collegiate Church of Our Lady of St. Pantaleon, with its magnificent gilded wood altarpiece from 1678, 19th-century coloured windows and porch bell tower standing over 30 metres tall.

Located at the heart of the Corrèze causse on the Way of St. James, at the crossroads of the GR46 and the GR480, the village of Turenne is also the starting point or a waypoint for hikers.

Perched on a limestone cliff in Vézac, in the heart of the Black Périgord, the Gardens of Marqueyssac overlook the Dordogne from a remarkable rocky spur. This 22-hectare estate, awarded the Remarkable Garden label and protected as a listed site since 1969, offers more than 6 kilometres of shaded walks. Its peaceful, fragrant paths wind through woodland, rock gardens, waterfalls, dry-stone huts and Mediterranean vegetation.

The history of the property dates back to 1692, when Bertrand Vernet de Marqueyssac acquired the estate and had terraces laid out around the residence. Altered between the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the castle retains an older central tower and an imposing stone-slab roof. From 1861 onwards, Julien de Lavergne de Cerval devoted some thirty years to creating the present-day Romantic park, planting tens of thousands of box trees, as well as cypresses, umbrella pines and Naples cyclamens. Restored in 1996, the gardens opened to the public in 1997.

Marqueyssac's most distinctive feature is its approximately 150,000 box trees, largely planted in the 19th century and hand-trimmed into rounded, undulating shapes. Around the Bastion, these billowing forms create a spectacular display of topiary art. Three routes lead to the Dordogne Belvedere, located about 800 metres from the castle and 130 metres above the river. From there, the view encompasses La Roque-Gageac, Domme, Beynac, Castelnaud, Fayrac and the valley's lush green meanders. A magnificent panorama!

Families can enjoy a maze, treehouses, playgrounds and a net course, while more athletic visitors can try a via ferrata built into the cliff, subject to access conditions. The Nature Pavilion, the woodturner's workshop, which operates during the tourist season, and the skeleton of Kan the allosaurus round off the visit. The estate is open all year round; allow at least an hour and a half for your visit. An easy route of about 1,600 metres is suitable for pushchairs and makes part of the estate accessible to people with reduced mobility. A restaurant and tearoom also occupy one wing of the castle, and dogs on leads are welcome.

Nearby, the villages of La Roque-Gageac and Beynac-et-Cazenac, Castelnaud Castle and the fortified town of Domme offer delightful opportunities to continue exploring the valley. Every Thursday in summer, the "Candlelight Evenings" bathe the paths in the gentle glow of candles...

Located on the right bank of the Dordogne, around ten kilometres from Sarlat-la-Canéda, Beynac-et-Cazenac is listed among the Most Beautiful Villages of France. Its medieval village, tiered between the old quays and limestone cliffs rising to around 60 metres, forms a remarkable ensemble of honey-coloured stone houses, stone-slab roofs and steep lanes.

Built from the 12th century onwards on a promontory overlooking the valley, Beynac Castle was the seat of one of Périgord’s four great baronies. During the Hundred Years’ War, this stronghold, loyal to the King of France, faced Castelnaud Castle, which was aligned with the Anglo-Plantagenet side. Listed as a Historic Monument in 1944, the fortress reveals its square keep, machicolated curtain walls, guardroom, Hall of the Estates, grand Renaissance staircase and former kitchens. From the terraces, the view extends across the Dordogne and the Valley of the Five Castles. The building has also served as a setting for several films, including "Joan of Arc" and "The Visitors II".

A walk through the village offers views of former knights’ houses, the Widow’s Gate, flower-filled little squares and the old suburbs, districts once associated with river transport, fishing, woodworking and hemp processing. Near the castle stands the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, a 12th-century building extensively altered in the 14th century and listed as a Historic Monument in 1912. Around five kilometres away, Cazenac, administratively merged with Beynac in 1827, retains Saint Martial’s Church in the heart of a rural setting.

Below, the quays recall the work of the barge operators, who transported timber and various goods along the Dordogne until the 19th century. In season, a trip aboard a traditional flat-bottomed barge offers views of the village and its fortress from the river. Around 300 metres long and marked by 13 information panels, the Artists’ Trail highlights Paul Signac, Félix Vallotton and other painters associated with Beynac. Every July, the Beynac Musical Nights festival presents chamber music concerts.

Good to know: the climb from the quays to the castle follows steep, cobbled lanes interspersed with steps. Sturdy footwear is recommended, especially in wet weather; several designated parking areas provide access to the village from either below or above.

Nearby, the Marqueyssac Gardens, Castelnaud Castle and the village of La Roque-Gageac offer further opportunities to explore this magnificent Périgord valley.

Located in the Upper Quercy, to be precise in the Dordogne valley, the village of Carennac is listed as one of the most beautiful in France and indeed boasts numerous interests. Among the assets of this charming medieval village are the ancient typical stone houses, the 16th-century castle, the Saint-Pierre church of Romanesque style and its remarkable carved tympanum, and the cloister of the half-Romanesque half-Gothic priory, which is conducive to meditation. The chapter house of the priory is home to a statue of the Entombment of Christ dating from the 15th century.

Natural cavern of 33 metres in diameter and 75 metres deep, the Padirac chasm located on the Gramat Limestone plateau, formed when the roof collapsed. In the heart of this cavity, 103 metres below ground to be precise, flows a underground river. Visitors descend 75 metres via a lift or staircase and go to the end of a gallery where they board boats for the first leg of the guided tour by river. 500 metres further, the visitors continue the circuit on foot through a series of beautiful rooms: the Salle du Lac de la Pluie (Rain Lake) and the pendant-like Pendeloque (giant stalactite), the Salle des Grands Gours with a lake, and then the Salle du Grand Dôme with its impressive 94-metre-high ceiling. All these natural formations are awe-inspiring.

Perched amid peaceful, green countryside along a rocky overhang, the medieval town of Curemonte has certainly earned the Most Beautiful Village of France label in many ways, with its old stone houses, Romanesque churches and majestic castles. The place that's also known as "the village of three" will charm you with its three churches, three castles, three calvaries and three fountains. A record for such a small village!

As you stroll along the picturesque streets, you can not only enjoy the delightful atmosphere of the place, where time seems to have stood still since the medieval era, but also admire some magnificent façades like those of the castles of Saint-Hilaire (14th century) with its square towers, La Johannie (14th) in a manor style, and Les Plas (16th) with round towers. On either side of the main square, you can take a look at the grain hall from the early 19th century and the Church of St. Bartholomew, topped by a bell-gable with three bays. Inside the church, you can see the remarkable painted wooden altarpiece dating back to 1672.

In the heights of the village, be sure to stop at the orientation table in order to enjoy the wonderful views over the roofs of Curemonte and the unspoilt landscape all around.

Dominating several valleys, which are the Dordogne valley, the Bave valley and the Cère valley, the hilltop village of Loubressac forms a harmonious architectural whole its castle, its church and its old stone houses with very picturesque brown-tiled roofs. The village also offers to its visitors a magnificent view of the surrounding valleys.

In the municipality of Montignac, at the foot of the Lascaux hill, which contains the original cave whose interior was closed to the public in 1983 for conservation reasons, the International Centre for Cave Art - Lascaux IV presents a complete replica of the decorated cave classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In this latest replica, open to the public since 2016, new techniques are used to showcase this important prehistoric site. Behind the glass doors of a huge, modern, semi-underground building spanning 8,000 m², none of whose walls are straight, originally-shaped rooms welcome visitors for an unusual experience.

The centre uses its preferred medium of digital technology to show off and enhance the cave art. From the heights of the belvedere, equipped with your digital tablet, you can leap back 20,000 years to admire the Vézère Valley and the wildlife of the time. Then in the shelter, take a trip to 1940 and follow the four teenagers who started this fabulous adventure, contemplating their amazing discovery as if you were there yourself.

In the Lascaux Studio (Atelier de Lascaux), discover eight big walls in a huge room, displaying the cave's main works of art. Several scenographic exhibits are on offer: swipe your tablet screen to discover the various works in virtual reality, share the tactile experience of the first humans by using their tools and techniques, become aware of the fragile balance of the cave through an immersive experience, and handle objects from the archaeological excavations carried out in Lascaux.

The Theatre of Cave Art will take you into a series of small rooms where a play in three chronological acts is staged. Topics covered include 19th-century doubts about the authenticity of the decorated caves, the working practices of two famous Prehistory specialists, and the techniques used by contemporary archaeologists.

With your 3D glasses on, in front of two giant screens, continue your journey in the underground realm by watching the film "Lascaux and the World", to admire Lascaux and other decorated caves around the world. Finally, in the Imaginary Gallery, you can explore the ties that have been formed between cave art and contemporary art by admiring images and artworks exhibited on a wall of 90 screens.

At Lascaux IV, you will find a unique experience that will shake up your temporal reference points, combining the mystery of an ancestral art form and the contribution of technology. An in-depth exploration for all ages that puts Lascaux back on the world cave art stage.

The Lascaux Cave, in Montignac, Dordogne, was discovered by chance in 1940 by four teenagers, one of whom had seen his dog slip into a nearby hole. He went after it and inadvertently uncovered one of the most important decorated caves of the Palaeolithic. This incredible cave, known as "the Sistine Chapel of Prehistory", was closed to the public in 1963 for its own protection, then became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.

Open to visitors since 1983, Lascaux II, the first replica of the original cave, presents the two most famous galleries: the Hall of Bulls and the Axial Diverticulum, where you can admire 90% of the paintings. The two museum areas tell the fascinating story of human evolution and tools, with recreations of prehistoric Lascaux. Step back in time on the same hill as the original cave, in the authentic natural setting of the Vézère Valley.

Not far from here, the International Centre for Cave Art - Lascaux IV, at the foot of Lascaux hill, is a complete replica of the famous cave. Since 2016, visitors have been invited to step inside the surprising architecture of its huge, semi-underground building, where they can contemplate, understand and really gain a feeling for cave art. New technology offers a unique experience by immersing you in this exceptional world in a very original way. Trained guides, digital tablets, themed rooms, games, and films on a big screen will all help you travel back in time to be immersed in the captivating atmosphere of early humans' underground world!

To complete your visit, Le Thot Park in Thonac offers a chance to discover cave art by exploring various areas on the theme of humans' relationship with animals in Prehistory. Just 9 kilometres from Lascaux, the exhibition area, animal park and various workshops invite you on an unforgettable journey through time and space. You can explore the daily life, gestures and techniques of Cro-Magnon man. The interactive time mirror experience will show you the species that he lived alongside, hunted and painted in his cave galleries, and the animal park offers an educational walk amid the living descendants of animals from that time. Plenty for visitors of all ages to enjoy!

Located in Prudhomat, on a natural spur overlooking the land of the four rivers—the Dordogne, Cère, Bave and Mamoul—Castelnau-Bretenoux Castle is one of the great medieval fortresses of Upper Quercy. Built mainly between the 12th and 15th centuries, this stronghold of the Barons of Castelnau until 1715 is distinguished by its ochre-red stone and triangular layout. Listed as a Historic Monument in 1862, it offers superb panoramic views over the surrounding valleys.

Measuring 250 metres in length, the outer defensive wall features six semicylindrical towers and three projecting bastions. The gatehouse retains its machicolations and traces of a portcullis, while the 13th-century square keep rises to a height of around 30 metres. The impressive artillery tower, approximately 14 metres in diameter, has several levels of gun loops. In the courtyard, the living quarters and castle chapel recall the castle’s residential role, while the arcaded gallery reflects its transformation into a prestigious residence in the 17th century.

Partially devastated by fire in 1851, the castle was purchased in 1896 by Jean Mouliérat, a tenor with the Paris Comic Opera who was born in the Lot. He restored the monument and assembled a collection of nearly 900 pieces of furniture, tapestries, paintings, sculptures, stained-glass panels and carved stone fragments, which were donated to the French state along with the castle in 1932. You will therefore discover a castle museum shaped by the historicist tastes of the late 19th century, rather than a strictly accurate reconstruction of a medieval interior. Allow around an hour and a half to explore the rooms and grounds. Good to know: the car park is located below the castle, a five- to ten-minute uphill walk away, and the many steps restrict wheelchair accessibility. Mystery games and family activities are offered during school holidays.

Nearby, Montal Castle and the villages of Autoire, Loubressac and Carennac provide an enjoyable continuation of your visit. Rocamadour is approximately 25 kilometres away.

Situated in Cabrerets in the peaceful Célé valley, the decorated cave of Pech-Merle is an important prehistoric site. Discovered in 1922 and opened to the public since 1926, the cave indeed contains remarkable cave paintings in its numerous concretions. It is in a magnificent place surrounded by stalactites, stalagmites and draperies that the visitor amazed by all these natural wonders can contemplate an incredible series of prehistoric artworks, such as drawings, paintings and silhouette engravings of humans, horses, mammoths, bulls and bears.

The Amédée-Lemozi museum adjoining the cave offers a presentation of Prehistory in the Quercy as well as an analysis of the paintings of the Pech-Merle cave.

The former fiefdom of the Counts of Turenne, the medieval village of Collonges-la-Rouge, nestling some twenty kilometres to the south of Brive-la-Gaillarde, surrounded by peaceful, green countryside planted with chestnut and walnut trees, will enchant you with its picturesque charm and its famous red sandstone.

From the old grain and wine hall built in the 16th century to the magnificent houses with thackstone and slate roofs, through the Flat Gate (Porte Plate) and the fortified church, you're sure to be won over by the beauty of this famous Corrèze town with its twenty-five towers. Lovers of beautiful stone buildings can enjoy a stroll along its pleasant streets lined with smart façades. A genuine journey through time, a walk around the village will not only show you the remarkable Church of St. Peter, with its splendid 12th-century tympanum carved out of white Turenne limestone and its imposing gabled Romanesque bell tower, but also some lavish 15th and 16th-century houses crowned with towers and turrets. Vassinhac castle with its elegant mullioned windows, the Ramade de Friac house flanked by two watchtowers, Benge castle with its machicolation remains and its graceful Renaissance window, or Maussac castle and its pretty doorway with a canopy are among the architectural treasures that you can admire on your walk.

In this place, officially listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France, you can also visit the Chapel of the Penitents, which dates from the early 15th century, or the picturesque Mermaid House (Maison de la Sirène), which contains a small museum of popular arts and traditions with a reconstruction of a period interior.

Nestled in a blind valley on the Gramat limestone plateau, Autoire is listed among the “Most Beautiful Villages of France.” Its golden limestone houses, brown-tiled roofs and turreted manor houses form a harmonious ensemble, overlooked by cliffs around 150 metres high. In the 17th and 18th centuries, prominent residents of Saint-Céré had several manor houses built here, earning the village the nickname “Little Versailles of Quercy.”

The visit begins around the dolphin fountain, which is thought to date from 1860, then continues through narrow streets lined with half-timbered houses, dovecotes and mullioned windows. Saint Peter’s Church, built in the late 11th or early 12th century, retains a Romanesque apse, a dome on pendentives and carved modillions; it was probably fortified after the Hundred Years’ War. Also worth seeing are the former fortified settlement, part of which now houses the town hall, as well as Limargue Castle and the manor house known as Busqueilles Castle, two private residences that can be admired from the outside. Away from the village centre, Saint Roch’s Chapel, listed as a Historic Monument, contains wall paintings dating from the late 15th or early 16th century.

Below the village, Autoire Waterfall gushes forth, the highest in the Lot, with a drop of around 30 metres. Listed as a protected site since 1932, it is at its most impressive after several days of rain, although its flow sometimes decreases sharply in summer.

A 2.7-kilometre walking loop leads to the waterfall, while the 5.7-kilometre blind-valley trail heads towards the Siran viewpoint and the Castle of the English. This semi-troglodytic medieval fortress, around 28 metres long and no more than 2 metres wide, clings to a rocky ledge. Sturdy footwear is essential on these stony and sometimes slippery paths; swimming remains prohibited at the foot of the waterfall. Designated parking areas at the entrances to the village help preserve its narrow streets.

Nearby, Loubressac, Castelnau-Bretenoux Castle, Saint-Céré and the Padirac Chasm provide an enjoyable continuation to any exploration of the northern Lot.

Built on a peninsula by the River Lot, the old town of Cahors offers a pleasant atmosphere with its narrow streets and its architecture. Symbol of the city, the Valentré bridge built in the 14th century is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This magnificent fortified structure with arches and cutwaters is the only bridge in the world to have three towers! You can get a perfect view of the Valentré bridge from the pretty riverbank or on board one of the boats which navigate the meanders of the River Lot.

In the lively old town, the majestic Saint-Etienne cathedral, topped by two domes, possesses a beautiful Romanesque portal with carved tympanums. Not far, the public garden Olivier-de-Magny lined by beautiful old houses, the Roaldès mansion, and the numerous narrow shopping lanes make Cahors a very pleasant place, especially since the medieval town is also a gastronomic centre with among others its famous red wine.

From the top of a rock dominating the unspoiled landscapes of the Lot valley, the village of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie is among the most remarkable sites in France. An entirely listed village, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie also appears on the list of the Most Beautiful Villages of France.

Fascinated by the charm of this place, as so many other artists and writers did, the poet André Breton chose to live there. This cliffside village is indeed particularly photogenic, with a harmonious group of beautiful stone houses with brown-tiled roofs and its fortified Gothic church, which stands on the edge of the high rock. Perfect for a stroll, the beautiful flower-filled narrow streets of the village are lined with craft workshops and art galleries. Happy walking!