SDF-43-60 -PATRIMOINE - GB_Mise en page 1 01/06/16 16:17 Page57
HERITAGE
Prehistory One of the rare painted caves
St-Cirq-Lapopie One of the most beautiful villages in France The medieval village of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie which contains 13 historical monuments is one of the most beautiful villages in France. Fastened to a cliff 100 metres above the left bank of the Lot, this old county town of one of the three viscounties of Quercy constitutes one of the major sites of the valley of the Lot. Situated on the via Podiensis, one of the pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela, SaintCirq-Lapopie was able, following on from its tumultuous feudal past, to display a strong craft activity which ensured its prosperity. The village then extended to below the old fort and the narrow alleyways are
bordered with stone houses with steep-sloping roofs covered with flat tiles. The state of conservation of the village with its half-timbered houses attracted to it in the middle of the 20th century numerous artists who restored these dwellings. Man Ray, Henri Martin, André Breton resided in this way in Saint-Cirq-Lapopie. Do not neglect to climb up to what remains of the castle from where one has a view of the whole village. Office de Tourisme Saint-Cirq-Lapopie - Pech-Merle. Tel. 33 (0)5 65 31 31 31 saint-cirqlapopie.com
From the Valley of the Lot to that of Célé The valley of the Lot, very mineral, is characterized by cliffs of sometimes more than 200 metres in height. After Bouziès the road goes along the river at the edge of the cliff, sometimes transformed into a guardpost during the Middle Ages. The overhanging défilé des Anglais [Pass of the English] is thus the most famous of the “fortified hollows” built
during the Hundred Years’ War. On the other bank the road rapidly becomes a corniche and offers a superb view. Conduché marks afterwards the confluence of the valleys. The D41 that goes along the valley of the Célé leads to the cave of Pech Merle then to Cabrerets. In this area the river is renowned for the quality of its water and offers numerous spots
for a descent by canoe. Upstream the waterfall of the Pescalerie adds to its charm. A few kilometres from here at Cuzals the open-air museum offers a life-size reconstruction of rural life as it used to be formerly in Quercy. Finally Marcilhac is built in its entirety around the impressive ruins of its abbey. abbaye-marcilhac.fr
The cave of Pech Merle situated 3 kilometres from Cabrerets is a fabulous shop window for cave art. Apart from the vast rooms endowed with superb concretions, the cave is adorned with multiple motifs executed more than 20,000 years ago. 700 graphic motifs have been listed of which 70 are depictions of animals (mammoths, bears, cave lions, etc.) and 28 depictions of humans and handprints. And of course the celebrated panel of the punctuated Horses, a panel of two big outlines of horses surrounded by points, mysterious signs and handprints. Nor should we forget the chapel of the Mammoths forming a frieze 7 metres wide and 3 metres high. Be careful, access to the cave in summer is limited in order to preserve it. Tel. 33 (0)5 65 31 27 05 pechmerle.com
The towpath of the Lot
In the 19th century the towing of barges going up the Lot with their cargoes of salt, dried fish or spices, was carried out with the help of oxen or draught horses. But between SaintCirq Lapopie and Bouziès, at the level of the lock of Ganil, the Lot is at the bottom of the cliff. It was therefore necessary in 1845 to hew out of the rock a towpath 300 metres long and barely two metres high. Those willing therefore pulled by hand the barges to go through this passage. The walk above the Lot is superb.
Destination Languedoc Roussillon Midi Pyrénées I HERITAGE I 57