Towns & villages
When the beauty of the nature and the work of the man coexist and sublime...
On one hand, the dumping in a unique natural surroundings, with a heritage built by character, a fauna and a flora exceptional, does not leave indifferent. The Causses du Quercy present a charming landscape consisted of trays limestone which are cut by the green and majestic valleys of the Lot(Prize) and the Dordogne, by those wilder of the Célé and the Verse, but also by the impressive canyons of Ouysse and Alzou and the numerous dry valleys or the coombs.
The "Causses du Quercy" present a charming landscape consisted of trays limestone which are cut by the green and majestic valleys of the Lot and the Dordogne, by those wilder of the Célé and the Vers, but also by the impressive canyons of Ouysse and Alzou and the numerous dry valleys or the coombs.
On the other hand, since the Prehistory, the Man marked his imprint on this whole space. Decorated caves, as that of Pech-Merle, in the exceptional City of Rocamadour, everywhere align themselves the low walls of dry stone, as well as the surprising caselles and gariotes. The daily confrontation with the stone was born an architectural tradition which gave of the nobility to the slightest village, to the smallest house, to the most isolated barn. Castles, templar commanderies, cistercian and hospitable barns are also the witnesses of a long story.
That you have a few hours or several days, the "Causses du Quercy" invite you to discover these wealth.
Some villages around Lalbenque:
AUJOLS - 14 min of Lalb.
Lake surrounded with ancient washing-places said "butterflies". Next to the partially Romanic church (12 C), vestiges of the former castle of Cardaillac. Spectacular site of pothole (abysses) of Aujols.
The most beautiful villages of France: here
Some cities to be visited:
- Cahors: of the bridge Valentré to the cathedral St-Étienne, the 1st city of the Lot conjugates warm southern atmosphere and historic wealth.
- Figeac: classified as a “city of art and history”, and “Remarkable Sites & Cities of France”, this ancient merchant town from the Middle Ages, a stopover on the way to Saint-Jacques de Compostela, is renowned for its remarkable heritage , and its astonishing Champollion museum. Medieval Figeac invites you on a journey through time much more distant and unexpected than you could imagine, an improbable detour through ancient Egypt, a dive into the mystery of hieroglyphics, and the discovery of the fascinating history of writing . of the world.
- Souillac : pretty little town on the banks of the Dordogne, at the gates of the Lot, rich in its history, and its abbey church where you can admire the famous sculpture of the prophet Isaiah, but also open the doors to inaccessible places thanks to the virtual tour. A truly privileged site, Souillac is at the crossroads of the Paris – Toulouse path and the Dordogne waterways. In summer, the Jazz Festival, the Fèsta los Bandas and numerous events bring the whole city to life.
- Sarlat : medieval town, and the capital of Black Périgord, in the pretty department of Dordogne, on the borders of the Causses du Quercy. With its history dating back to the Middle Ages, Sarlat has an exceptional heritage in store for you. It is one of the most beautiful towns in France, with no fewer than 66 listed monuments: Convent of the Order of Notre-Dame, Former Sainte-Marie Church, Town Hall, etc. It has housed famous people, such as the writer Étienne de La Boétie (1530-1563), Maurice Rouel (1910-1987) and Pierre Janot (1925-1994), politicians, Jean Nouvel, architect, Éric Alégret, French rugby union player… All were born in Sarlat. Gastronomy and art of living are also part of the culture of Sarlat which we enjoy discovering during events which take place throughout the year.
Visit over water or by small train:
- The cruises of Saint-Cirq Lapopie: proposes you various formulae to go off to explore the towpath cut in the rock, cliffs of limestone, a manual lock and of course the perched village of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie ...
- The cruises of Cahors: cruises FENELON proposes you several formulae to visit Cahors, and Saint-Cirq Lapopie
- The Small Train of Cahors with a panoramic roof will make for you stroll in Cahors, circuit commented by the city
Castles:
- Castle of Cieurac (6 km of Lalbenque)
- Castle of Couanac (15 km of Lalb.)
- Castle of the Reine Margot (28 km of Lalb.)
- Castle of Cénevières (30 km of Lalb.)
- Castle of Larroque-Toirac (49 km of Lalb.)
Dovecotes of Lalbenque - Limogne:
A guide on sale in the TO, will allow you to follow a circuit in the discovery of these dovecotes and to discover all their history, utility and their forms.
Museums:
- Museum of Art and Popular Traditions, at Limogne (22 km of Lalbenque).
- Ecomuseum of Cuzals, at Sauliac on Célé (38.5 km of Lalbenque).
- "Saveurs et Safran" museum at St Cirq Lapopie (24 km of Lalbenque).
Abysses and caves:
- The "Phosphatières" of Cloup d'Aural in Bach (12 km of Lalbenque) = "trous à phosphate", open-air abysses of more than 25 m of depth. Minings of the end of the 19th C, they aroused a real frenzy extended to the European level. Today, it is paleontologists who exploit these deposits containing unique fossils, allowing restoring the evolution of the tertiary era on more than 32 million years.
- Padirac chasm (84 km of Lalb.) : is France's most frequently visited chasm and one of the most fascinating in Europe. After a vertiginous descent to 103 m below ground level (don't worry, there's a lift!), you're off on a visit that takes 1 hr 30 mins. You'll be taking a trip in a small boat along the underground river.
- The Pech Merle cave, Museum and Cave in Cabrerets (33 km of Lalb.): association of natural beauty with the prehistoric works, which are numerous, kept well, and representative of all the techniques and the subjects of the art of caves. To ensure its conservation, the number of visitors to the cave is limited to 700 people per day in July and August. It's therefore wise to reserve a visit in advance: 05 65 31 27 05 or by mail.
Wildlife reserves:
- "Aux Prés Des Bêtes": animal farm of more than about twenty species, in Belmont St Foi (10 km of Lalbenque)
- The "Rocher des Aigles": vultures, condors, hawks, macaws, cockatoo and other parrots evolve above the canyon of Rocamadour. (75 km of Lalbenque).
- Alpagas of Quercy: visit 'discoveries' of the breeding and his workshop wool in Frayssinet (52 km of Lalbenque)
Miscellaneous:
- Safran of Quercy is a spice which arises from the Crocus sativus where from gets loose the deep red of stigmas; while taking the stigmas of these flowers during the harvest in October/November, then by drying them one obtains this invaluable spice. It is necessary to collect in the hand 200 000 flowers to obtain 1 kg of dry saffron.
Cultivated in Quercy since the Middle Ages, the saffron was present in numerous families for a personal consumption. It has disappeared never completely from gardens of Quercy. Today, thanks to the will of men and women attached in their country, saffron farms produce again a high-quality saffron.
- Les Senteurs du Quercy, in the Mas of Fraysse, near the village of Escamps, at Mélie & Fred, a couple horticulturalists collectors passionate with iris. 3 hectares of land planted with 1200 varieties of iris (flowering in May), 150 varieties of hemerocallis (flowering in June and July). Collection of over 150 species of sage. This tree nursery, one of the richest in France, visits since 2004. The opportunity to discover species rare as black iris but also get acquainted with the perennials of the region. They specialise in plants for dry conditions.
- Stars in your eyes: the famous «Black triangle of Quercy» is the "best night sky in metropolitan France" is found above the Causses du Quercy. To protect these exceptional night heritage, several municipalities of the Park (above the Lot) have committed themselves to turning off their public lighting at a certain time of the night and/or are installing more efficient street lamps ; others have also signed up to a charter for the protection of the environment and of the night sky.
It is one of sites the best protected from the light pollution in France. Stars, planets, Milky Way … you will not find better place to observe them! You can download the Notebook in French here.
Some downloadable documents from 'Parc naturel régional Causses
du Quercy' (in French):
Tourist Guide of Lalbenque - Limognes (in French)
Downloadable documents from "Esprit Lot"