Vue aérienne d'Espagnac-Sainte-Eulalie — ©Vallée du Célé Espagnac-Sainte-Eulalie|Cyril Novello

These fascinating placesthat have stood the test of time

Towns and villages with a medieval feel

Ancient fortifications, hilltop villages, towns with half-timbered houses, cobbled lanes, Gothic palaces… A stroll through the heart of our Pays d’art et d’histoire is a plunge into a rich past that marries architectural heritage with postcard-perfect landscapes. Here,medieval architecture has left its mark. From Figeac, a wealthy merchant town and major stopover on the route to Santiago de Compostela, to the picturesque villages of the Lot and Célé valleys embark on a journey back in time, to discover a heritage that bears witness to the lives of our ancestors and to centuries gone by!

Medieval splendor

Figeac

Lively and authentic, Figeac is a dialogue between the centuries. The town reveals a unique and rare heritage: medieval houses, Renaissance mansions, 18th-century mansions… Epochs and styles blend harmoniously, giving the town a touch ofItaly in Quercy. The town was the birthplace of Jean-François Champollion, the famous Egyptologist, whose house has been transformed into the Musée Champollion – Les Écritures du Monde, the only museum of its kind in Europe.

Figeac

Let’s stroll through the centuries in the pearl of the Célé valley. Follow in the footsteps of the first monks and merchants of the Middle Ages. Explore the extraordinary adventure of Jean-François Champollion, decipherer of hieroglyphs and famous child of Figeac. Let’s meet the town’s inhabitants and its modern-day squares, cafés and bustling market…

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The Lot Valley

Between landscapes and heritage

La Dolce Vita in Cajarc

Set in a cirque of high cliffs on the banks of the River Lot, Cajarc evokes a sense of tranquility in the shade of plane trees. The town’s narrow streets, picturesque houses and charming squares are a delight to explore. A fashionable resort in the 60s, Françoise Sagan ‘s town is synonymous with culture and the good life.

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The hilltop villages of the Lot valley

You’ll discover them in the distance or by surprise, at the bend of a river loop: the hilltop villages of the Lot valley. Situated on rocky peaks or on the edge of steep cliffs, these majestic villages are well worth a visit. Often built as impregnable citadels, these jewels now open their walls to us.

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Escape into

our villages of character

In the heart of Grand-Figeac, we stroll from valley to village. From fortresses perched atop cliffs to towns nestling in the hollows of valleys, let’s escape to these must-see sites with their rich historical past.

Vue drone de Cardaillac, dans le Ségala Lotois, plus Beau Village de France — ©Cardaillac Ségala|Lot Tourisme - Cyril Novello

The Most Beautiful Villages in France

One is perched on a rocky promontory 110 m above the Lot valley, the other offers an exceptional view of the Ségala forests from the top of one of its three majestic towers: Capdenac-Le-Haut and Cardaillac. These two exceptional villages of character, ranked among Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, are, along with our innumerable nuggets, among the must-see sites of our Pays d’art et d’histoire, Grand-Figeac, Vallées du Lot et du Célé!

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Le village et l'abbaye de Marcilhac-sur-Célé — ©Le village et l'abbaye|Christophe Bouthé - Agence Vent d'Autan

Secret villages in the Célé valley

A preserved medieval village where heritage rhymes with charm, a priory and an abbey that have left their mark on history… Between the sculpted cliffs and wild landscapes of the Causses du Quercy, the Célé valley reveals a wealth of authentic villages. Charming, seductive, secret or preserved, from Corn to Sauliac-Sur-Célé, via Marcilhac-sur-Célé, these little stone treasures never cease to amaze. Tucked away in a meander of the river or nestling against the cliffs, they’re the perfect place to stroll, recharge your batteries and take a dip. Let’s follow the course of the river and listen to the stories these villages have to tell.

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