Sightseeing

The Lot Valley is one of France's best kept secrets. All the fine cuisine, rustic villages, markets and general French charm of the Dordogne, but without the crowds.

One of the most striking things about the region is the varied landscape. In a day, you can go from rocky, heath covered highlands through thick ancient forest to vast uninhabited lakes. With this variety comes some fantastic outdoor activities.

Set in rural France, the Lot valley flourishes on tourism and wine. It's young, dynamic yet wholeheartedly traditional. For discerning Francophiles, it's a place to relax among the Malbec vineyards, explore medieval villages and colourful market towns and enjoy fabulous views along the way.

We are sure, that during your stay at Les Granels, you will want to explore a little. The valley is dotted with delightful restaurants and boutique hotels. Whether one chooses to ramble, drive along quiet country lanes or sail on the river, the Lot has attractions for every taste and budget. The western reaches of the Lot valley cover the départements of Lot and Lot et Garonne.

We feature some of the more popular places to visit below, but we know that during your stay with us, you will discover some wonderful gems of your own!

Cahors

Cahors is a large and quintessentially French medieval town, with many arcade houses of bricks and timber frames, surrounded on three sides by the meandering river Lot. The Pont Valentré bridge over the Lot is one of the finest examples of medieval architecture and along with Cahors cathedral are UNESCO world heritage sites.

Now world famous for the wonderful wines from this area the town is a bustling, thriving centre of commerce, full of attractions.

Markets are held on on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Cahors tourist site
46000 Cahors ~35 minutes (directions)

Agen

Agen, the county town of Lot-et-Garonne, dates back to Roman times and has been of great importance as a trading centre since then. Although much of the town is modern, Agen's setting on the banks of the River Garonne offers delightful riverside walks and there are well preserved medieval houses and interesting churches, including the Romanesque church of St Caprais. Masterpieces by Goya and treasures from the Gallo-Roman period can be viewed in the town including a statue discovered in a field beside the Garonne.

Place des Laiters nearby plays host to relaxing cafés, interesting shops and find bargains in the outdoor Wednesday market. A Saturday morning market is held in the public gardens of Le Gravier near a footbridge across the river. You can hire canoes and take cruises by the hour or day on the Canal Lateral which flows parallel to the Garonne.

47000 Agen ~1h15 (directions)

Les Arques

The pretty village of Les Arques was home to the Russian Sculptor Zadkine and boasts a Museum of his amazing work.

On the pure France website but not on the Les Granels website.

https://www.lesarques.fr/

Saint-Cirq-Lapopie

The village of Saint-Cirq Lapopie is perched on a cliff over 300 feet above the river Lot and is one of the major beauty spots of the Lot valley, having been officially designated as one of France's most beautiful villages.

Below the fortress, the village streets lead down to fortified gates. Many historic houses have stone or half-timbered fronts going back to the 13th-16th centuries. The houses are narrow and have steep tiled roofs. Beneath the Saint-Cirq Lapopie cliff there are watermills, weirs, harbours, locks and towpath.

Many painters came to live and work in Saint-Cirq Lapopie. First the Post-Impressionist Henri Martin, then the Surrealists with the poet André Breton, who said he would not want to live anywhere else.

46330 Saint-Cirq Lapopie