About the
Lot
The Lot is well known in France as being a
beautiful department. It lies just to the east of the department of the Dordogne
and the rivers of the Lot and Dordogne flow through it.
Historically, it has had connections with the
English from hundreds of years ago: Aquitaine used to extend much further east
than is now the case. Indeed, the cliffs above the village of Autoire, 4 km from
our house, was the eastern "frontier" of Aquitaine at one time, and
the ruins of the Château des Anglais can still be visited. Nearby is the Château
de Castelnau, visible from miles around, an attraction well worth a visit.
Château de Castelnau
Rocamadour, a town constructed before 1100 AD,
is well known as a place of pilgrimage and lies on one of the alternative
pilgrimage routes from Le Puy en Velay to Santiago de Compostela in north-west
Spain (Le Chemin de Santiago or El Camino de Santiago). It is very strikingly
constructed on an escarpment and is a delightful place to visit. It, too, is a
place visited by the English (first sacked / plundered in the 1180s) but
visitors are more genteel today. It boasts a "Fôret des Singes"
(Monkey Park), chapels to visit, shows in the evening, two excellent
restaurants, and some lovely walks in the area.
There are 3 villages within 15 km of the house
classified as amongst the most beautiful in France: Autoire, Loubressac,
Carennac. They are all very special and merit a visit as they embody the old
architecture of the area and are attractively maintained by the current
villagers. In addition to these villages some towns of repute such as Sarlat,
Cahors, Souillac, Figeac, Collonges la Rouge all have sights to see.
Activities which visitors can indulge in
include canoeing, riding, golf, walking, cycling, pot-holing, visiting
underground grottoes - in particular the "Gouffre de Padirac" - ,
walking in a labyrinth, swimming.....
Autoire
Autoire boasts a château and a manor, is
overlooked by the ruins of the Château des Anglais, not to mention its old
church and most of its dwellings from the 1800s if not before. It is a
picturesque village (with 2 good restaurants).
In the village of Autoire at the end of July
there is a "pyrosymphonique" display which is a firework display and
music. The fireworks take place on the high escarpment above the village as well
as in a field quite close to Autoire itself. It is well done, and attended
by locals from miles around.
Gramat
Near the end of each July Gramat (10km away)
holds a French style country and western week-end. People come from far and wide
in their American cars, Harley Davidson bikes, cowboy hats, set up music stands,
restaurants, fair ground stalls to celebrate. It gets into exciting mode from
midday on the Saturday and continues well into Sunday night.