Benjamin & Marion
Things To Do
Saint-Cirq-Lapopie
33 MINUTES FROM CAHORS Perched high above the Lot river, the medieval village does a spectacular cliff-hanging act Going eastwards from Cahors, a cliff-lined road winds upriver through the Lot valley to bring you to Saint Cirq Lapopie. This medieval village, elected the Favourite Village of the French in 2012 by TV viewers, emerges from the rock 100 metres above the river. It winds downhill in a veritable cascade of little paved lanes, Gothic façades, fortified gates and hollyhocks.
Rocamadour
1 HOUR FROM CAHORS Rocamadour is one of the Grand Sites of France. It was also voted 'the favourite village of the French 2016' by viewers of a French television channel. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the pilgrim route of the 'Way of Saint James'. Rocamadour is one of France's most important tourist destinations. Rocamadour has several highlights well worth exploring, although it is the 'village as a perfect unity' which is really the big attraction. The village clings to the cliff side above the river Alzou and is so picture perfect it is quite breathtaking. For the best views of the village in its entirety go to l'Hospitalet which is a small hamlet on the edge of Rocamadour.
Le Gouffre de Padirac
1 HOUR FROM CAHORS Without hesitation, the Padirac chasm is the most beautiful in France, its dimensions are out of the ordinary: First of all, a 35-metre diameter and 103-metre deep well that you have to contemplate from above but also from below with its breathtaking view. The descent can be done by a lift or a staircase. At the bottom of the cavity, you will discover the entrance to an underground network no less than 42 km long. You will walk down a first gallery leading to an underground lake. There a boatman is waiting for you for a discovery by boat. Arriving on the opposite bank, your guide will take you to marvel at the work of time. Giant limestone formations, underground lakes, incredible sculptures in the shape of pendentives, piles of plates or whatever you and your children like to imagine... everything is brought to light to magnify the different caves, the impressive stalactites and stalagmites, and the most surprising nooks and crannies.
Collonges-la-Rouge
1 HOUR AND 9 MIN FROM CAHORS Not only does Collonges-la-Rouge proudly proclaim the status as one of 'The Most Beautiful Villages in France', it's also the founder of the association. Despite inhabitants putting down roots as early as the 8th century, the village became a stronghold of the Counts of Turenne by the 14th century and one of the largest fiefdoms in France. Collonges's hallmark is undoubtedly its blazing red buildings (hence the name) built with sandstone rich in iron oxide, unusual for other areas in France but characteristic of parts of the region. Visitors can enjoy a stroll along the narrow alleyways fringed with these flamboyant medieval gems and draped with either clusters of grapes, lashings of wisteria or crowned with an elaborate tower.
Cordes-sur-Ciel
1 HOUR AND 20 MINUTES FROM CAHORS Cordes is a large and amazingly well preserved bastide with dozens of narrow streets to explore. For the photographer there are photo opportunities at every turn of a corner as gothic archways frame beautiful timber framed buildings. If you visit early or late season you may be lucky enough to see why it was renamed from Cordes to Cordes-sur-Ciel in 1993. Low cloud and mist often shroud the surrounding valleys and Cordes appears above the mist and seems to float in the sky, bathed in sunlight.
Cité de Carcassonne
2 HOURS AND 8 MIN FROM CAHORS The Cité de Carcassonne, in the region of Occitanie, is one of our favorite places in France and will likely steal your heart too. The UNESCO listed Cité de Carcassonne is a medieval citadel that contains the Carcassonne Castle, Saint Nazaire Basilica, and medieval houses. We have listed the Cité de Carcassonne as one of the most famous French landmarks, and also one of the top things to do in France. One of the most visited cities in France, Carcassonne is a must-see destination for history lovers, French châteaux lovers, and for those who want to enjoy a weekend in the sun in Southern France.
La Forêt des Singes
1 HOUR AWAY FROM CAHORS CHILDREN AND ADULTS Step inside the reserve and enjoy privileged insight into this fascinating animal society living in conditions similar to the wild. The “Forêt des Singes” is strongly committed to the protection of the species by: • Raising public awareness of the need to protect the species by giving people the opportunity to observe the Barbary macaques in a setting very similar to their natural habitat • Actively encouraging observational non-invasive studies in the field of behavioral ecology and sociobiology • Developing educational information on the monkeys • Creating and preserving an invaluable genetic pool with the population in the park and strengthening the wild populations by re-introducing entire groups of monkeys - Over 600 Barbary macaques have already been successfully re-introduced into their natural habitat in the Atlas Mountain in Morocco • Supporting various actions aiming at the conversation of the species.