Saint-Cirq-Lapopie

Visit Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, Midi-Pyrenees

St-Cirq-Lapopie ('most beautiful villages of France') is 20km east of Cahors in the Lot region of France

St Cirq Lapopie, in its stunning position perched over the Lot River, would be generally considered as one of the most beautiful of the 'most beautiful villages of France'. It is in the 'Parc naturel régional des Causses du Quercy'.

At the top of a cliff 80 metres above the Lot River, the town is accessed through great stone gates in the fortified walls, and has the remains of three chateaux, and a fine 15th century roman-style church (four feudal dynasties lived here in the middle ages, hence all the chateaux!).

The narrow cobbled streets of St Cirq Lapopie contain a lovely mixture of medieval houses - some in colombage (half-timbered) and some in stone, with small terraced gardens adding to the beauty of the place.

Below the village, next to the river, are an assortment of old mills and buildings testifying to the activity of the village in centuries gone by.

Nowadays St Cirq Lapopie is home to numerous artists and artisans, a trend started perhaps when Andre Breton made his home here and declared that he had, as a consequence, 'stopped wanting to go anywhere else".

The village lies on one of the important pilgrimage paths to Santiago de Compostelle that cross France, and also played an important role in the Albigensian crusades, the Hundred Years War and the Wars of religion.

St Cirq Lapopie is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Lot region, and should not be missed if you are in the region. As with many of the 'most beautiful villages' it is best seen early in the morning - for the better light, and for the smaller numbers of tourists bustling around.

Local highlights

Nearby places of interest include the prehistoric caves of Pech-Merle at Cabrerets; the chateau de Cenevieres (a beatiful renaissance chateau); and the Chateau de Larnagol.

Much of the surrounding Lot Valley is also worth exploring.

(Note: main picture thanks to Niall O'Neill))

Photos of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie (click any picture to start the gallery)

Tourist classifications for Saint-Cirq-Lapopie: One of the most beautiful village in France (plus beau villages);

Suggested places to visit near Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Villefranche-de-Rouergue 32km; Beaulieu en Rouergue Abbey 32km; Figeac 33km; Capdenac 34km; Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val 35km; Gramat 35km; Cardaillac 35km; Lacapelle-Marival 36km; Najac 37km; Rocamadour 37km; Puy-l'Eveque 42km; Autoire 45km; Bruniquel 45km; Gourdon (Lot) 46km; Loubressac 47km; Chateau Montal 47km;

See these places and more on a map at places near Saint-Cirq-Lapopie

Saint-Cirq-Lapopie tourism: sights and attractions nearby

Causses du Quercy - regional natural parc (12km) : Cathédrale de Saint-Étienne (Cahors) - religious monument (18km) : Jardins secrets de Cahors - remarkable garden (18km) : Cayriech - ville fleurie 4* (28km) : Jardins de Quercy - remarkable garden (35km) : Jardin de la Daille - remarkable garden (43km) : Gouffre de Padirac - site of natural beauty (44km) : Jardin du Pèlerin - remarkable garden (48km) :

French version: see Saint-Cirq-Lapopie (Francais)