Le Lot Region (Continued)

Tues:  27^th May, 2014.  More rain through the night but none this morning, though it was overcast early on.  Another slow morning resulting in an 11.00a.m. departure from Vers and we made our first stop at St Gery, where we visited the boulangerie and bought  a couple of f.a. cream cakes…yum!

Following the  beautiful river Lot on the D662, a section of the road passed under overhanging cliffs

and just before we reached St Cirq Lapopie, we stopped to take photos of the castle at the top of the hill and began a conversation with the owner of the property in front of which we parked, an Englishman who has lived there with his wife for 10 years, and due to health reasons, has had to put it on the market. 

With three buildings side by side, a swimming pool, a very, very large landscaped garden which goes down to the  river and for 285,000 euros, it seemed to us to be a bargain and he seemed to think so too but had taken advice from his lawyer, who apparently knows best.

It was only a short drive to the aire from the property and after lunch, we walked up the steep hill to the 12^th century village of St Cirq Lapopie, which belongs to the select group known as the most ‘beautiful villages in France’.  It’s easy to see why and it was well worth the climb to explore the village and all it has to offer, and to admire the spectacular panoramic views.  We took many photos! 

Back down at the aire, Mike put the chairs out in order to sit and soak up the sunshine but alas, a big black cloud appeared and dropped a bucket full of rain, causing windows and hatches to be closed, but it didn’t last very long, the sun is once again shining brightly and the wind has dropped considerably, however, there will be no more sitting in the sun today as it is time to eat.

Wed:  28^th May, 2014.  We were shrouded in a heavy mist this morning when we woke and could just see to the end of the field.  Mike took a couple of photos of the river

Afternoon Photo

 Morning Photo

and after all the usual morning stuff, we left to follow the beautiful River Lot.

The mist had lifted by this time and the sun was shining.  The first stop was at Cajarc, where we parked at the railway station and strolled through the town.  There was a small market in progress but upon inspection, we found that goods were expensive and so weren’t tempted to spend any money there but were more than content to amble through the old streets and the church and probably took enough photos.

Further along the road, we came to Larroque Toirac, noticed a chateau on the hill behind the town, asked a local if it was open to the public and on receiving affirmation, parked and began to walk up, only to read a notice stating that the privately owned chateau is only open on Sundays!  A couple of photos later

and we were back on the road to Figeac, where we visited the supermarket for groceries as the larder needed replenishing and tomorrow is apparently a public holiday in France, so most shops will be closed.  That done, we drove 9kms to Cardaillac, an 11^th century village and our place of rest for the night.  A walk around the old town revealed many ancient buildings,

several wash houses

and a medieval garden.

Cardaillac is numbered amongst the group of 150 ‘beautiful villages’ dotted all over France,

 
but is quite unspoiled and there is a distinct lack of cafes, bars, souvenir shops etc. that can be found in many other such villages.

Thurs:  29^th May, 2014.  We thought we might be disturbed through the night by the bells of the nearby church, but they were rung at 7.00pm yesterday and not again until 7.00a.m. today so there was no problem.  Backtracking a little, our first call this morning was to Capdenac le Haut, another of the ‘beautiful villages’ and having no trouble parking Boris, we did our usual seniors’ stroll through the village which overlooks the River Lot

after which we undertook a 45km drive to Autoire, yet another of the ‘beautiful villages’, only this one is tucked into a deep gorge cut into the limestone by a little stream.  A steep climb up the cliff just before entering the village rewarded us with magnificent views of Autoire and the cascade at the head of the gorge. 

Parking was available for Boris at the edge of the village while we wandered off to explore and take a photo or two.

Only 4 or 5 kms away lies Loubressac…yes, yet another of the ‘beautiful villages’  which in the middle ages was a fortified village, served as a lookout post for the nearby fortress of Castelnau-Bretenoux, possesses lovely stone-built houses and has a magnificent viewpoint overlooking the countryside. 

It has been a very full and tiring day and by the time we’d finished our ‘tour de villages’, we were both feeling rather weary so another short drive of 14kms, and we are now in an ‘aire’ in Alvignac.  Although we’re a mere 500 metres from the town, we have not yet ventured in to sample its delights, they can wait till morning!