Your helpful guide to the Lot and Lot-et-Garonne, France.
The Lot and Lot-et-Garonne departments of France were once seen as the poor relation to the Dordogne which borders them to the north but not any more. The vastly improved communications have now opened up the areas and are seen as being just as picturesque as their northern neighbour.  They have just as many beautifully kept chateaux, towns and villages and are now just as popular holiday destinations, although I think they have a more French feel than their neighbour because they haven’t been totally flooded with Brits.
Named after the river Lot that flows through them they are lush, green hilly areas where cycling, walking and water sports are popular. Products of the regions are of course wine, particularly Cahors, walnuts, tobacco, chestnuts, truffles, Foie gras and prunes! Of course, the French have their own way of making your simple prune into something to die for by soaking it in armagnac then dipping it in chocolate! Aughh!! The valleys are particularly fertile and well irrigated by the many springs. These valleys tend to have their own microclimates which are particularly favourable for the growing of many crops including the vines and tobacco.
If you’d like to watch a truly French business taking place, visit the truffle market in Lelbanque just outside Cahors on a Tuesday where buyers and sellers face each other over a long table on which are the small baskets filled with truffles. This is an interesting and somewhat secretive affair where trading isn’t allowed to start until a bell is rung at 2.30pm. After this, pieces of paper with prices on are passed to and fro between buyers and sellers in order to keep them secret from other buyers, if a buyer accepts the piece of paper he is deemed to have accepted the price and the deal is done, away from the crowd, to maintain the secrecy.  The truffle is one of the most expensive foods in the world where supply and demand can see the price double if demand outstrips supply. You are just as likely to see English buyers for top London restaurants side by side with the French buyers.
Visiting the Lot and Lot-et-Garrone departments is like stepping back in time to a slower more peaceful era perfect for those who just want to unwind and relax. |
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Places to visit in the Lot and Lot-et-Garonne
Rocamadour
Impressive town in two halves; the old part clings to a cliff face with it's monestry and many small gift shops and restaurants, the new half just a short but steep walk away with more shops, restaurants and a cave system. More details click HERE
Three miles from Rocamadour is a prehisoric adventure park which your children will love. You can find details on their website HERE
Gouffre de Padirac
The best cave system I've ever visited. If you've never taken a boat trip below ground this is your chance. The trip takes about 1 1/2 hours and starts with a decent by lift over 100 metres into a massive hole in the ground. More details click HERE
Saint Cirq Lapopie
Saint Cirq Lapopie is definitely one of the prettiest villages in the Lot as it clings to the limestone cliffs 100 metres above the river Lot. Even in the high season when it is at its busiest it still maintains an air of peace and tranquility. Read all about St Cirq Lapopie HERE
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Activities in the Lot and Lot-et-Garonne
Canoeing
A safe and relaxing pastime that the kids will love and you get to see the Lot and Lot-et-Garonne from a completely different perspective. See the rivers wildlife and look into the gardens of fantastic houses bordering the river. Stop off for a picnic on the river bank or munch your baguet whilst drifting silently downstream. Don't forget the bottle of wine! You can find a company running these excusions HERE
Fishing
The Lot river is well known to be good fishing as are the various lakes and tributary rivers in the area, particularly for black bass, trout and large carp. These are looked after by the fishing federation who sell the inexpensive fishing licences and make sure the fishing is good for locals and tourists alike. Check out their website HERE
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Market days in the Lot and Lot-et-Garonne
One of the most popular and unmissable pastimes when you go on holiday to France is to visit some of the many markets. They are still very much an important part of local life in every town and village providing an outlet for local produce and crafts of all types. Towns and especially villages in France still place great importance on community and supporting that community and part of what holds that style of life together are the markets. Many villages are now running nocturnal markets which provide a novel and pleasent way of eating out cheaply. Once you have settled yourselves at one of the many tables set out around the market you go and get a starter from one of the stalls where the stall holder will prepare it for you. You pick up a bottle of wine from another stall where they will open it for you. After you have finished your starter, go and find your main course choosing from all the locally prepared dishes available. These types of nocturnal markets are becoming more and more popular I'm glad to say.
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* High season only
Assier 1st & 3rd Monday
Souillac Monday*, Wednesday*, Friday
Duras Monday, Thursday, Saturday
Miramont Monday, Thursday
Prayssas daily Jul 5-Sep 4
Beauregard Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday pm
Bétaille Tuesday pm*
Bretenoux Tuesday, Saturday
Catus Tuesday
Floirac Tuesday, Friday
Gourdon Tuesday, Thursday*, Saturday
Gramat Tuesday, Friday, Sunday
Lacapelle-Marival Tuesday eve, Sunday
Lalbenque (Truffles Nov-Mar 2.30pm)
Latronquière Tuesday, Friday
Leyme 2nd & 4th Tuesday, Tuesday*
Marcilhac-sur-Célé Tuesday pm*, 1st Sunday
Puy-L'Évêque Tuesday, Saturday
Salviac Tuesday, Friday
Aiguillon Tuesday, Friday
Casteljaloux Tuesday, Saturday
Fumel Tuesday, Friday, Sunday
Villeneuve-sur-Lot Tuesday, Saturday
Bagnac-sur-Célé Wednesday
Cahors Wednesday, Saturday
Livernon Wednesday pm*
Luzech Wednesday
Martel Wednesday, Saturday
Payrac Wednesday
St-Cirq-Lapopie Wednesday*
Souillac Monday*, Wednesday*, Friday
Penne-d'Agenais Sunday, Wednesday
Tonneins Wednesday, Saturday
Castelmoron-sur-Lot Wednesday
Beauregard Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday pm
Brengues Thursday pm*
Gourdon Tuesday, Thursday*, Saturday
Mercuès Thursday
Montcuq Thursday*, Sunday
Sauzet Thursday
Sousceyrac Thursday, Sunday*
Vayrac Thursday, Saturday
Clairac Thursday
Duras Monday, Thursday, Saturday
Mézin Thursday
Miramont Monday, Thursday
Monflanquin Thursday
Monsempron-Libos Thursday
Tournon-d'Agenais Thursday*
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Floirac Tuesday, Friday
Gramat Tuesday, Friday, Sunday
Latronquière Tuesday, Friday
Prayssac Friday, Sunday*
St-Germain-du-Bel-Air Friday, Sunday*
Salviac Tuesday, Friday
Souillac Monday*, Wednesday*, Friday
Aiguillon Tuesday, Friday
Castillonnès Friday*
Fumel Tuesday, Friday, Sunday
Villeréal Friday*
Ste Livrade Friday
Beauregard Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday pm
Bretenoux Tuesday, Saturday
Cahors Wednesday, Saturday
Cajarc Saturday pm
Duravel Saturday
Figeac Saturday
Gourdon Tuesday, Thursday*, Saturday
Martel Wednesday, Saturday
Puy-L'Évêque Tuesday, Saturday
St-Céré Saturday
Vayrac Thursday, Saturday
Casteljaloux Tuesday, Saturday
Duras Monday, Thursday, Saturday
Marmande Saturday
Monflanquin Saturday*
Sérignac-sur-Garonne Saturday
Tonneins Wednesday, Saturday
Villeneuve-sur-Lot Tuesday, Saturday
Albas Sunday
Arcambal Sunday
Biars-sur-Cère Sunday
Castelnau-Montratier Sunday
Cazals Sunday
Concots Sunday
Douelle Sunday
Espère Sunday
Gramat Tuesday, Friday, Sunday
Labastide-Murat Sunday*
Lacapelle-Marival Tuesday eve, Sunday
Lalbenque Sunday
Limogne-en-Quercy Sunday
Marcilhac-sur-Célé Tuesday pm*, 1st Sunday
Montcuq Thursday*, Sunday
Prayssac Friday, Sunday*
Puybrun Sunday
St-Germain-du-Bel-Air Friday, Sunday*
St-Géry Sunday
Sousceyrac Thursday, Sunday*
Le Vigan Sunday
Fumel Tuesday, Friday, Sunday
Penne-d'Agenais Sunday, Wednesday
Pujols Sunday |
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Fast search for hotels in the Lot and Lot-et-Garonne using the facility below. Fill in the name of the town where you'd like to stay and select the dates to check availability. These come with location maps but if you would like their gps coordinates please email me at coords@gps4touring.com |
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Accommodation in department 46 Lot |
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| Gite |
Le Bos Negre, 46300 Milhac, Lot, France |
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| BED & BREAKFAST |
LA PIERRE PLANTEE BAZALGUE BALADOU 46600 LOT FRANCE |
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| BED & BREAKFAST |
ATELIER DE LA ROSE, 46700 MONTCABRIER, FRANCE. |
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| BED & BREAKFAST |
La Maison Rose, Niaudon 46220 Prayssac. |
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| Chambre d'hote |
La Galerie, Route de Lherm Catus, Cahors, Lot 46150 France |
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| Chambre d'hote |
Le Mas de Gramat 46350 The Lot, Payrac, France |
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| Hotel |
Hotel Bissonnier, 51 Boulevard des Martyrs, Gourdon, lot 46300 France |
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| Hotel |
Hotel-comp-hostel, Place de l'Europe - 46500 ROCAMADOUR |
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| Gite |
Poudens, Degagnac, Lot- Midi-Pyrenees 46340 France |
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| Campsite |
Les Pins. Payrac, Lot 46350 |
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Accommodation in department 47 Lot-et-Garonne |
Click on pictures for more details |
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| Bed and breakfast |
Pre de l'Aubier Loubes Bernac 47120 |
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| Gite |
Bernege
47320
Clairac
France |
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| Hotel |
Hôtel Atlantic
133, av Jean Jaurés - 47000 Agen |
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© 2009 gps4touring |
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