Most Beautiful Villages of France

Le Puy Route - Section 4

The Most Beautiful Villages of France

Learn more about these beautiful villages before embarking on your journey.

On this 4th section of Le Puy Route, the Camino goes from beautiful Cahors to charming Lectoure and crosses both the Lot and Garonne Valleys. The green round hills of the area, added to a rich historical heritage make this leg of the Camino a beautiful walking holiday for anybody seeking both natural and cultural sites. Two of the Villages along the Way have received the coveted status of "The most beautiful villages of France", however with numerous medieval buildings at almost every stopover, the region has plenty to offer modern pilgrims!

Lauzerte

CAHORS

History

In 800BC the Celts of Cadurci settled in Cahors situated strategically in a loop of the curvaceous river Lot, surrounded by hills. In the first century AD the Romans marched their legions over the land and planted the first vineyards (Cahors - The Black Wine ).. You can still see some of the Roman remains, and the site of the old Roman bridge.

The heyday for this glorious old town came in the fourteenth century, when a local boy, Jacques Dueze, became Pope John XXII, and set up his seat at the papal palace in Avignon. It was also under this Pope’s powerful influence that architecture flourished. Notably the city’s signature building, the wonderful Pont de Valentré, was built at this time.

Today it is a popular tourist centre with people coming to enjoy its mediaeval quarter, in particular its...

Pont de Valentré
This medieval masterpiece is the city’s hallmark and said to be the most photographed sight in France, outside Paris. In the Middle Ages it was a well-worn part of the pilgrim trail to Santiago de Compostela and is still used for the purpose even today.

A splendid example of fourteenth century architecture, built with the aid of the devil… or so they say.

The story of the Devil ….It took a long time to constuct the bridge and the architect began to get a bit impatient, so he enlisted the assistance of the devil, who promised to help, in exchange, for the architect’s soul. However as the project neared completion the architect tried to back out of his obligations. The devil therefore took his revenge by sitting on the central tower, and as the masons laid the last stone on the final day, the devil removed it at night. It happened over and over again. The devil is still there today, carved in stone and clinging to the tower, so if you cross the bridge, take care

Other sites...

City Gates and Ramparts
The Cathedral of Saint Etienne and The Market Place
Cliffs of Mont Saint Cyr
The Dueze Palace and the Medieval Streets
The Secret Gardens

Cahors really is an enchanting old town. With its ancient quarters and medieval bridge, cobbled streets, secret gardens and leafy boulevards, wonderful cafes, restaurants and relaxed street life.
It has it all.

The Black Wine of Cahors

An undiscovered French red wine, revered by Popes and Princes

Why black? Principally because it is almost black, just hold a bottle up to the light and you’ll see into its deliciously inky depths. Cahors red wines are reputedly the darkest in the world; they are also some of the strongest and richest and will keep for years...

MONTCUQ

Montcuq – a vibrant agricultural town
The town of Montcuq, is a vibrant agricultural community famed for its gourmet treats such as meringues and waffles. Lying in the beautiful Quercy countryside, Montcuq is a town that has considerable charm, with its old stone buildings, a 13th century tower and dungeon, and traditional street market.

Cathar history
Like many towns in south-west France, Montcuq was caught up in the Cathar tragedy, having its strongholds violated and its defenders massacred on more than one occasion. The town, whose history also dates back to Roman times, has been taken by the English and ransacked by the Huguenots, giving it a turbulent and interesting past! Montcuq still has an old tower and dungeon, marking its place in history.

Markets and shops
Montcuq has a super street market every Sunday morning, and nothing beats a leisurely stroll through the streets, browsing the colourful goods on offer and chatting to friends. A town with a Sunday market has an added advantage too, as in rural France it is unusual to find shops that are open on Sunday, so a market is a boon if you have forgotten to buy some vital ingredients for your Sunday dinner! The town is also equipped with a good selection of local shops and a couple of supermarkets. All other everyday facilities such as schools, banks, health care etc. are also easy to access here.

LAUZERTE

Lauzerte has been listed since April 1990 as one of the “Most Beautiful Villages of France”, villages selected for the quality of their heritage, of their architecture and of their environment. Obtaining this classification involves a rigorous selection process and retaining it requires constant efforts.

Perched above the valleys and hills of Quercy Blanc, this fortified village founded in the 12C by the Count of Toulouse is on the "via Podiensis", one of the pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela. Many traces of its historical and religious past still remain intact : the main square and its cobblestones, stone-built or half-timbered houses, and the pilgrim’s garden to name but a few

At the end of the 12th century, the Count of Toulouse was gifted the hill in order to build a castelnau, a city protected by a castle. The foundation of the castelnau, given its strategic and economic advantages, was an instant success. Two hundred building plots were distributed to the first inhabitants, drawn by the freedoms they would earn. By around 1200, Lauzerte stretched along a single road, to the north, while a path circled the plateau to the south. Between the two, the space rapidly filled up and the square was built modelled on that of Montauban. Outlying neighbourhoods were later to complete the urbanisation of the fortified site.

Halting place on the pilgrimage route to Compostela, a thriving market town, populated and wealthy - witness its medieval houses - Lauzerte remains to this day one of the most beautiful and the most typical of the hill top castelnaus to be founded in the south of France.

Located in the heart of the Chasselas table grape appellation (certified area), where Quercy melons are also grown, Lauzerte does indeed look out over a mouth-watering landscape, its pathways meandering between limestone plateaus and gentle valleys. As the seasons unfold, the latter take on the colours of the fruit trees, sunflowers, sweet corn, vines, lavender…

The richness of the minor local heritage, dominated by the dazzling white of the limestone rock (pigeon towers, mills, isolated chapels, prosperous farms, etc.) echoes the charm of the village itself.

Other Sites

Tour of a bastide
Place des Cornières
The church of Saint Barthélemy
The Barbican
The Pilgrim’s Garden
The medieval houses of the Grand Rue and the Rue de la Gendarmerie
The former Clarisse convent
Place de la Brêche

and many more

MOISSAC

The one thing that makes Moissac a household name in the history of art is the cloister and porch of the abbey church of St-Pierre, a masterpiece of Romanesque sculpture and the model for hundreds of churches and buildings elsewhere. Indeed, the fact that it has survived countless wars, is something of a miracle. During the Revolution it was used as a gunpowder factory and billet for soldiers, who damaged many of the sculptures. In the 1830s it only escaped demolition to make way for the Bordeaux–Toulouse train line by a whisker.

Legend has it that Clovis the Frank first founded a monastery here, though it seems more probable that its origins belong a hundred years or so later in the seventh century, which saw the foundation of so many monasteries throughout Aquitaine. The first Romanesque church on the site was consecrated in 1063 and enlarged in the following century.

The famous south porch, with its magnificent tympanum and curious wavy door jambs and pillars, dates from this second phase of building. It depicts Christ in Majesty, right hand raised in benediction, the Book of Life in his hand, surrounded by the evangelists and the elders of the Apocalypse as described by St John in the Book of Revelation.

The adjoining cloister is entered through the tourist office, and if you want to experience the silent contemplation for which it was originally built, get there first thing in the morning. The cloister surrounds a garden shaded by a majestic cedar, and its pantile roof is supported by 76 alternating single and double marble columns. Each column supports a single inverted wedge-shaped block of stone, on which are carved with extraordinary delicacy all manner of animals and plant motifs, as well as scenes from Bible stories and the lives of the saints. An inscription on the middle pillar on the west side explains that the cloister was made in the time of Abbot Ansquitil in the year of Our Lord 1100.

AUVILLAR

The village of Auvillar, is also officially recognised as one of the most beautiful villages of France. A hilltop village, largely built of local red brick, Auvillar enjoys an imposing view over the Garonne Valley. Auvillar is revealed through one of the 3 gateways that cut through its fortifications and lead to the square where a circular corn exchange can be admired – the only one of its kind in Southwest France.

It is known that Auvillar was the site of an ancient community and was possibly rebuilt in Roman times. Auvillar has always been a magnet to artists. During the 12th century, Macabrun, a poet and a musician, was born and lived in Auvillar and later a number of Occitan poets lived there. More recently, the elaborately decorated ceramics of Auvillar were another important part of a long tradition. A remarkable collection of ceramics made in Auvillar during the 18th and 19th centuries is to be found in the Auvillar Museum of Art. Today, Auvillar is still a very attractive village for artists looking for inspiration. Painters like to spend awhile quietly appreciating the calm and serenity of the village.

The people of Auvillar (‘Auvillarais’) are well known for their hospitality. They like to welcome tourists and any visitors

THE CHAPEL OF SAINT CATHERINE AT LE PORT

The mariners were also religious people, having their own church or chapel in almost every harbour. Almost all of these were dedicated to Saint Catherine who was regarded as the patron saint of the river people, as well as philosophers. In Le Port, you can still find the chapel of Saint Catherine, although unfortunately it is in a state of disrepair

LECTOURE

Peaceful rural setting
The town of Lectoure lies in in a peaceful rural setting. Although the town itself is essentially calm, with its buildings being attractive examples of old Gascon architecture, built in the distinctive pale stone of the region, there is plenty to do. A lively and warm atmosphere pervades the town centre, which offers a good selection of shops

A town of art and history
The town of Lectoure has been officially designated a town of art and history by the French minister for culture and communication, offering some interesting museums, including an archaeological museum and a museum of religious art, and there is also much of historical interest in the town itself. Once an important military town in Gallo-Roman times, Lectoure was a strongly fortified town, and it is possible to find parts of the ramparts still existing today

A Gascon ambience and a warm welcome
The region of Gascony was historically a very hospitable region with a proud gastronomic tradition. Lectoure is no exception to this, and in the town today you will find plenty of bars and restaurants offering Gascon hospitality and cuisine at its very best

Local specialities
Local specialities include duck, Foie Gras and, of course, Armagnac. It may not be the best place to be if you are on a strict diet, but if you enjoy excellent French cuisine then Lectoure is superb

Back to History

Other Places Along The Way

More information Le Puy Section 4

Official Website

Les Plus Beaux Villages De France

Source documents

Cahors

Source Article - http://www.frenchentree.com/france-lot-quercy-tourism-leisure/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=4129

http://www.frenchentree.com/france-lot-quercy-cahors-wine/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=9394

Montcuq

http://www.frenchpropertylinks.com/midipyrenees/lot/montcuq.html

Lauzerte