Montcuq Castle
Dating back to the 12th century, the castle keep stands proudly on a conical hilltop, a sturdy 24-metre-high tower. Nowadays, it houses a small museum dedicated to local connections and history, and you can walk up the (steep) steps to the top for a bird’s eye view of the surrounding countryside. It is only open to the public during July and August, but in other periods it is still worth walking up to the base of the castle to enjoy the views.
A day at the lake
In the summer months, the local Lake St Sernin is open for supervised swimming, relaxing on the sandy beach. You can buy refreshments on site or take a picnic area and there is also a children’s play area.
Explore the River Lot
From Montcuq, the beautiful River Lot is only half an hour’s drive to the north. Those who enjoy active pursuits can hire canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddle boards or pedaloes, and explore the river at their own pace. Those who prefer to focus on the scenery without the elbow grease can take a boat trip from Cahors to admire its sights, including the famous Pont Valentré, a magnificent vaulted stone bridge.
The pilgrimage trail
Montcuq is on the Via Podiensis, one of four trails across France traditionally taken by pilgrims heading to Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain. A nearby village along this trail and well worth a visit is Lauzerte, in France’s official list of ‘most beautiful villages’. And a little further south, the UNESCO listed cloisters at Moissac Abbey are a wonderful sight to behold.
