Lot

Situated in the north of the Lot, close to the Dordogne and Corréze borders, Martel is a very pretty town which grew wealthy thanks to its walnut trade. Many of its picturesque medieval buildings remain, including the seven towers that give the town its nickname ‘la ville aux sept tours’, a particularly fine market ‘halle’, and the Palais de la Raymondie – now the Tourist Office. A tourist steam train departs from Martel station, and other interesting possibilities nearby include the biggest collection of reptiles in France at Reptiland, and over 35 species of orchid at Les Orchidées de Vincent in Puy Lombry.

Montcuq is a lovely medieval bastide with some attractive half-timbered houses and a good number of shops and restaurants, and a church with a distinctive octagonal belltower. Set above the village, the original 12th century castle keep looks out over the rooftops of the town and the ‘Quercy Blanc’ countryside. The wider region has plenty of history and heritage to discover, including the sights and wines of Cahors and activities on the River Lot.

Built on a limestone promontory, the village of Les Arques offers a horizon of wooded hills to the passer-by. The village is only tiny but extremely pretty and full of charm! There is a château, a Roman church, and a museum celebrating the sculptor Zadkine, whose works and influence can be seen all around the village and who really put it on the map. Walking along the little narrow streets, visitors can discover a beautiful 12^th century priory, around which the village was built.

Frayssinet-le-Gélat is a village of pretty honey-stone houses with flowers at the windows, along with a pleasant café-restaurant, a good baker and a little grocery. The village dates back to the 13^th century and derives its name from the Latin word for ‘ash tree’, and the French for ‘frozen’. It is a typical Lot village, set in a wooded area, close to the borders with the Dordogne and Lot-et-Garonne departments. There is much of interest within easy reach, from prehistoric caves to châteaux as well as the vineyards of Cahors and a host of picturesque villages along the river Lot.

The village of Duravel is located in the Lot département, with the River Lot and Cahors vines on one side and gentle hills covered by the chestnut forests of Bouriane on the other. Duravel’s old church and stone houses, set along tranquil narrow streets, are sheltered by a wooded hillside. The varied landscapes of the surrounding countryside – hills, woods, pastures, vineyards, riverside – provide plenty of possibilities for a stroll. Although it looks a fairly unassuming village, Duravel has many things to discover as it was a strategic place in Roman times. It used to have a fortress then a priory founded by Clovis, the first Franc king. In the 12th century church there is a crypt sheltering the tombs of three saints.

A weekly market is held in Floressas during the summer, the busiest you will probably see it! A well-kept peaceful village of light-coloured stone buildings with colourful shutters, centred around its château which dates from the 14th century. Woodland and vines surround the village, ideal for countryside walks, and the nearby winemaking estate, Château Chambert, offers tasting experiences and a gastronomic restaurant.

It is only a 15 minute drive to the superbly preserved town of Puy l’Evêque, which dramatic overlooks the River Lot. Several sections along the river have been set aside for pedestrians and cyclists. You can also have fun on the water by hiring canoes or kayaks. Further east on the Lot, the regional capital Cahors has plenty of history, architecture and culture to discover.