Lauzerte

Visit Lauzerte, Midi-Pyrenees

Lauzerte is 15 kilometres north of Moissac in the Tarn-et-Garonne region of the Midi-Pyrénées. It is a lovely small bastide town, founded by the Count of Toulouse in 1241, that is set along the top of a small hill and now included as a 'most beautiful village of France'.

We highly recommend a visit to Lauzerte if you are in this part of France, or as a detour if you are visiting Moissac.

Exploring Lauzerte

There is an attractive arcaded centre square (the Place des Cornieres) in Lauzerte with the church of Saint-Bathelemy to one side, which is one of the best preserved bastide centres in the region. Most of the houses are in the local light stone, with one in colombage. (Curiously they have raised one corner of the paving in the central square in the air, presumably in an effort to be artistic. Just looks odd to me!)

The side streets off from the square also contain a large number of attractive medieval houses.

There is also a small but well planned 'Pilgrims garden' in the town that has won various awards from regional tourist boards and deserves to be explored.

The town is set on a hill and from the edge of Lauzerte there are open views over miles of countryside. Look north from the Place du Chateau and south from the steps above the pilgrim garden for the best views.

The town is also a stop on the major pilgrim routes through France (it is on the GR65 national pathway).

Market day is Wednesday morning at the Place du Foirail and Saturday morning at the Place des Cornieres.

Note: we discovered Lauzerte almost by accident, on the return from a visit to Moissac, and found a town in full renovation - streets upturned, houses being reconstructed and improved. So I suspect that the Lauzerte you will see now is quite different to that of a few years ago.

Photos of Lauzerte (click any picture to start the gallery)

Tourist classifications for Lauzerte: One of the most beautiful village in France (plus beau villages);

Suggested places to visit near Lauzerte, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Montjoi 19km; Tournon d'Agenais 20km; Beauville 20km; Frespech 26km; Puy-l'Eveque 28km; Auvillar 28km; Puymirol 28km; Penne d'Agenais 29km; Laroque-Timbaut 30km; Chateau de Fumel 30km; Montauban 31km; Cahors 32km; Chateau de Bonaguil 33km; Villeneuve-sur-Lot 38km; Pujols 39km; Chateau de Gavaudun 39km;

See these places and more on a map at places near Lauzerte

Lauzerte tourism: sights and attractions nearby

Jardin du Pèlerin - remarkable garden (0km) : Eglise de Notre-Dame (Lacour) - religious monument (16km) : Eglise et cloitres de Saint Pierre (Moissac) - religious monument (17km) : Abbaye de Saint Maurin (Saint-Maurin) - religious monument (20km) : Eglise Notre Dame (Frespech) - religious monument (26km) : Cathédrale de Saint-Étienne (Cahors) - religious monument (32km) : Jardins secrets de Cahors - remarkable garden (32km) : Cayriech - ville fleurie 4* (38km) :

French version: see Lauzerte (Francais)