Vue aérienne de Capdenac-le-Haut, classé parmi les Plus Beaux Villages de France

A slender villageon a meander of the Lot

Capdenac-Le-Haut, medieval fortress

Perched on its rocky spur 110 meters high, in a majestic natural setting, Capdenac-le-Haut offers us, like a belvedere, an exceptional panorama on the Lot valley and the Aveyron. Just 10 minutes from Figeac, this village in the Lot, classified as one of the “Most Beautiful Villages in France“, takes us on a journey through time, from the Gallo-Roman era to the Middle Ages. Let’s take a step up and go for a stroll in the narrow streets full of charm of this fortified medieval city.

An oppidum

became a castrum

Its geographical location high up in acingle of the Lot explains its history.

From ancient times, Capdenac was a fortified site. One hypothesis even considered this Gallo-Roman oppidum, as Uxellodunum, the ultimate place of Gallic resistance against Caesar’s legions!

A flourishing merchant city in the Middle Ages, the fortified village became a Protestant security place after the Edict of Nantes, before experiencing the Catholic Reformation.

In the 19th century, the town experienced a turning point in its destiny with the arrival of the railroad and industrialization, economically favoring the new town of Capdenac-Gare.

Today, Capdenac-le-Haut is a small village with a delightful charm, where Ancient Gaul and Medieval period are mixed.

What to see in Capdenac ?

The must-haves

Let us enter the picturesque alleys of the walled city:

The donjon
The fontaine des Anglaisand theRoman fountain, known as the Caesar
TheGergovia gateand the Vigane gate
The house of guards, the houseSully
The Church of St. John the Baptist
TheGarden of the Five Sensesand the Garden of the 1001 Paws
The Busy Savoyard

The The Keys to Capdenac-le-Haut is a nugget for discovering the village with the family.

Escalier du Donjon de Capdenac-le-Haut, Plus Beaux Villages de France

La fontaine des anglais à Capdenac-Le-Haut, plus Beau Village de France

A keep, ramparts

A fountain

At the entrance to the village, one cannot but be attracted by the donjon, the tower of Modon. Probably built in the 13th century, it ensured the proper defense of the city. Witness of the military past, it proudly stands over the valley. In summer, we climb it, and from its terrace, it offers a breathtaking panoramic view.

A little further along the remparts, a staircase carved in the rock takes us to the fontaine des Anglais, made up of two troglodytic basins. From the 135 steps, a breathtaking view of Capdenac-Gare is available to us.

Sensory stroll

The Garden of the Five Senses

Like a haven of peace at the foot of the keep, the Jardin des Cinq Sens takes us on a sensory walk to discover the plant world and medicinal plants. Amidst its plots evoking touch, smell, sight and taste, the trickle of water from the wooden fountain poetically suggests hearing.

In the heart of the village, the Jardin des 1001 Pattes raises our awareness of the environment. We discover the life of insects and their preponderant role in our gardens. In the center of the garden, a gigantic insect hotel awakens the curiosity of children!

The Garden of the Five Senses

The Sunday market

with truffles

Mushroom that grows in symbiosis with a truffle tree, the truffle is a rare product. A tiny amount will flavor your dishes. Thriving in limestone soils, it can be found with the help of dogs or a particular kind of fly that lands on the surface. On Sunday mornings, from mid-January to the end of February, the trufficulturists will reveal some of its secrets to you, even if there is still some mystery about the ideal conditions for its cultivation.