Page 397 - Lonely Planet France’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

medieval trading post The Drive » The corkscrew streets and medieval
and pilgrims’ stopover. drive west of Figeac along the buildings, many of which
Figeac is also famous D662 is a classic, tracking now house potters’ and
as the birthplace of Fran- the course of the Lot River all artists’ studios. The
çois Champollion (1790– the way to Cahors. The 46km village is essentially one
1832), the Egyptologist stretch to St-Cirq-Lapopie is long, steep main street;
particularly scenic, at some
and linguist whose efforts points cut directly into the at the top is the ruined
in deciphering the Ro- cliffside, at others snaking along château, which has a
setta Stone provided the the peaceful riverbanks. Take it magnificent viewing
key for cracking Egyptian slow and enjoy the drive. terrace that overlooks
hieroglyphics. Explore the whole Lot Valley. It’s
his story at the Musée TRIP HIGHLIGHT a magical setting, but be
Champollion (%05 65 50 31 warned: if it’s peace and
08; www.musee-champollion.fr; 2 St-Cirq-Lapopie tranquillity you’re look-
place Champollion; adult/child This famously photogenic ing for, you won’t find it
€5/2.50; h10.30am-6.30pm hilltop village teeters at in high summer.
daily Jul & Aug, shorter hours the crest of a sheer cliff, There are car parks at ATLANTIC COAST 37 THE LOT VALLEY
rest of year). high above the Lot. It’s a the top of the village and
delightful tangle of red- at the bottom of the hill.
54 p399 roofed houses, cobbled
54 p399
# \
# \
The Drive » Head downhill
from St-Cirq-Lapopie, cross
the river and rejoin the D662.
Rocamadour Bouziès is 4km west.
# \
Aynac
# \ # \
Gramat # \ Leyme TRIP HIGHLIGHT
0 ¸ 0 ¸ 3 Bouziès
D677
D840
# \ Lacapelle-
# \ Le Bastit Rudelle # \ Marival Just west of St-Cirq, this
F G riverside hamlet is an
36
0 ¸ # \ # \ Assier # \ Cardaillac ideal place to get out on
# \ Montfaucon
D802
Labastide- Durbans l L
# \ Livernon # \
Murat LOT Lissac
# \ Figeac LINK
Parc Naturel Régional
Causses de Quercy F G Espagnac- # 1 # \ # YOUR
30
# \
0 ¸ # \ Blars # \ St-Sulpice Faycelles TRIP
Ste-Eulalie
Célé
D653
St-Pierre- # \ u Cheat’s
Gréalou # \ Toirac 0 ¸ Compostela
D922
Sauliac-
# \ 0 ¸ # \ Lot # \ Gelles
Bouziès # \ Cabrerets sur-Celé Cadrieu D662 This route intersects with
#
3
# \ # # \ # \ our road-trip version of the
# \ # \ Conduché # \ Cajarc Montsalès
# \ Chemin de St-Jacques at
#
2
St-Gery Tour # St-Cirq- Cahors and Figeac.
de Faure / · La Capelle-
D19
Lapopie # \ # \
Balaguer Villeneuve Dordogne’s
Limogne- {
en-Quercy F G Fortified Villages
# \ 0 ¸ 36 Our bastides tour begins at
D911
Villefranche Monflanquin, 20km north of
/ · de Rouergue # \ Villeneuve-sur-Lot.
D19
Aveyron 395