Do you have a week, 10 days, or more to visit the Lot ? Then don't stay in the same place all the time… The ideal solution is to take a road trip through the Lot and combine it with a visit to the Aveyron . This way, you can discover new tourist sites every day, the diverse landscapes of Quercy and Rouergue, and some of the most beautiful villages in France.
That's what I did in 1 week to visit the Lot and Aveyron regions thanks to a driving tour which allows you to discover a rich and varied heritage, natural sites and landscapes among the most beautiful in France.
Along my route through the Lot and Aveyron (route map below) I was able to rediscover the richness of my Occitanie region (and yes, I am from Toulouse and proud to be so even with my much-mocked accent!!!):
- Cahors and its Malbec vineyards,
- la Lot valley with Saint Cirq Lapopie,
- the beautifuls hilltop villages in Aveyron,
- le Conques treasure,
- the magnificent bastides of Rouergue,
- and the famous city of Rocamadour !
Visit the Lot and Aveyron - The unmissable
To be able to establish an itinerary with stops at the most beautiful tourist sites in the Lot and Aveyron regions , I had to list the most beautiful sites and villages in the region which (in my opinion) are must- sees in the Lot and Aveyron :
- Cahors
- Saint-Cirq-Lapopie
- cabrerets
- Pech Merle caves
- Sauliac-sur-Celé
- Marcilhac-sur-Cele
- Espagnac-Sainte-Eulalie
- Figeac
- Villefranche-de-Rouergue
- Najac
- Belcastel
- Conques-en-Rouergue
- Rodez
- Entraygues-sur-truyère
- Estaing
- Espalion
- Bozoul
- Rocamadour
Visit the Lot and Aveyron - Map of my itinerary
Visit the Lot and Aveyron - Stages of my circuit
Cahors and Saint Cirq Lapopie - D1
Surrounded by a loop in the Lot Valley, Cahors (capital of the Lot) is a town of art and history that I visited in one morning.
During peak season, you can opt for a guided tour of the old town and its famous Valentré Bridge on a miniature train . This medieval fortified bridge is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela.
After lunch, you can head towards Saint Cirq Lapopie , 30 km from Cahors.
Perched above the Lot river, this medieval village, voted the favorite village of the French, is one of the most beautiful villages in France.
You can stroll around all afternoon and perhaps even take a short hike along the Lot River. For that, I recommend taking the towpath at Bouziès (right next to Saint Cirq Lapopie).
Carved into the rock along the river, the Chemin de Halage is an emblematic route of the Lot Valley. Beyond the beauty of the site with its grandiose cliffs, this site is the testimony of the inland waterway activity on the Lot (the horses pulled the boats from this path).
Which hotel in Saint-Cirq Lapopie?
In the heart of the Causses du Quercy National Park, opposite Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, the hotel Le Saint Cirq has everything you need to relax:
- wellness Center,
- indoor pool,
- hammam and sauna,
- outdoor pool,
- terrace overlooking the park and the medieval village.
More information about this hotel
Hilltop villages of the Lot - D2
This morning, we're heading to Cabrerets (a 20-minute drive) to visit the Pech-Merle cave, which experts consider a true masterpiece of cave art. You can also visit a museum about prehistoric life and the history of the site.
Then you will take the road through the magnificent Célé Valley and stop along the way in the picturesque villages of Sauliac , Marcilhac-sur-Célé and Espagnac-Sainte Eulalie.
In the late afternoon, you will arrive in Figeac for dinner and to spend the night.
Which hotel in Figeac?
To be in the heart of Figeac's old town, I recommend the Mercure Figeac Viguier du Roy Hotel . You can enjoy its restaurant, swimming pool, garden with terrace…
More information about this hotel
The most beautiful villages in France - D3
This morning, you can leisurely visit the town of Figeac , the city of Champollion and of writings, where you can admire magnificent houses with half-timbered facades and sculpted decorations.
I recommend taking the Figeac Keys circuit, which allows you to do a complete tour of the city and its must-see buildings on foot in 3 hours.
Then, you'll head towards Aveyron to reach Villefranche-de-Rouergue, a large bastide town typical of the Rouergue region . It's distinguished by its regular layout, with streets leading to the central square lined with arcades. There, a beautiful collegiate church overlooks the square. You can also visit the Chartreuse Saint-Sauveur, a 15th-century Gothic architectural masterpiece.
My route continues through the Aveyron gorges , following the river to reach Najac , which is listed among the Most Beautiful Villages of France . With its royal fortress perched on the rocks, this village offers an exceptional panorama.
It is in this wonderful village that I advise you to spend the night.
Which hotel in Najac?
I recommend the Belle Rive logis to be in the heart of the Aveyron gorges, just 2 km from Najac. This beautiful hotel is located on the banks of the Aveyron and offers you a breathtaking view of the Château de Najac.
More information about this hotel
The most beautiful villages in France - D4
After Najac , we continue today to visit the most beautiful villages in France located in Aveyron.
After a 1-hour drive, you will arrive in the heart of the medieval village of Belcastel . Dominated by the ruins of a fortified castle, this village has preserved a magnificent 15th-century bridge that spans the Aveyron river.
Then, it will take approximately 45 minutes to reach the unmissable stage of the Way of St. James: Conques!
Classified among the Most Beautiful Villages of France and the Great Sites of Occitanie , Conques is a reference in Romanesque architecture.
You can spend the afternoon discovering all its treasures:
- Half-timbered houses,
- Bread ovens,
- Public fountains,
- Pilgrim's Bridge,
- Abbey of Sainte-Foy from the 11th and 12th century with its 250 capitals and stained glass windows by Pierre Soulages and its famous treasury, that of Sainte-Foy, a reliquary covered with gold and precious stones ...
Which hotel in Conques?
If you want to stay close to the medieval village of Conques, this is the Hervé Busset Hotel-Restaurant for you! This establishment offers an outdoor swimming pool and is located near a river (ideal for a short walk in nature).
More information about this hotel
Rodez and the surrounding villages - D5
On this 5th day, my tour takes you to the capital of Aveyron: Rodez. You will be able to visit the famous Soulages Museum and Rodez Cathedral.
Then you will take a long and very beautiful road of 90 km which allows you to follow the Lot valley and its gorges through villages of character:
Bozouls and its incredible hole (the Bozouls canyon is a geological curiosity, a hole 400 m in diameter and 100 m deep).
Espalion (Fortified castle of the lords of Calmont, its old Palace and its Old Bridge with the bell tower of Alayrac).
Estaing (village classified as the most beautiful village in France with its castle and picturesque alleyways).
Entraygues-sur-Truyère (medieval village with half-timbered houses dating from the 15th century, a castle and bridges from the 13th century);
Which hotel in Entraygues?
For a relaxing break close to the village centre, I suggest the Hotel la Rivière (swimming pool, fitness centre, spa, sauna, hammam with aromatherapy and hot tub…).
More information about this hotel
Rocamadour, the most beautiful village in the Lot - D6
My tour today heads back towards Figeac to continue in the Lot department towards an unmissable site in France: Rocamadour ! From Entraygues, it will take 2 hours by car.
Perched on a cliff in the heart of the Causses du Quercy Regional Natural Park, the city of Rocamadour overlooks the Alzou valley.
This medieval citadel has attracted pilgrims from all over Europe since the 7th century. They come there to admire the reliquary statue of the Black Madonna exhibited in the miraculous chapel of Notre-Dame and to pray the relics of the hermit Saint Amadour.
But it is not only religious who make the way to Rocamadour, thousands of tourists from all over the world visit this exceptional site in Occitania.
It must be said that Rocamadour is incredibly beautiful with its panoramic location, its medieval houses and its semi-troglodytic sanctuaries built on the sides of the cliff.
Which hotel in Rocamadour?
For the last 2 nights of this tour, I recommend a magnificent hotel full of charm and character: Best Western Beau Site.
It is ideally located in the heart of the medieval city and has free parking. With a panoramic dining room, the hotel's restaurant offers regional gourmet cuisine made from local products.
Want to discover other beautiful routes in the South of France?
Here's my road trip from Montpellier to Perpignan
or 3 days to discover the major sites in the Pyrenees
or my tourist circuit in Ardèche
in the Hérault Gorges
in the Tarn Gorges
in the Verdon Gorges
In Dordogne
or a road trip in the Gard region
Or why not head to the ocean side with a road trip in the Landes region?