Page 180 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - France

178 BACK ROADS FRANCE

Lazy Rivers and Unspoilt Villages Vayrac

Two of the most beautiful natural regions of southwest France, Martel
the Tarn and the Lot blend into each other. This route explores the Souillac
best of both, taking in green flowing rivers, verdant landscapes Dordogne Montvalent
and unspoilt medieval villages. The itinerary begins in the historic La Rue
town of Albi on the Tarn, birthplace of the artist Toulouse-Lautrec Lamothe- Lacave
Fénelon Alvignac
(1864–1901), and meanders northwards crossing the Aveyron Calès
Payrac
river and a limestone plateau before dropping down into the Lot ROCAMADOUR L‘Hospitalet
Valley. The goal at the end, further northwards just south of the
Dordogne, is the sacred shrine of Rocamadour, breath takingly Gourdon St-Projet
situated on the side of a steep valley. Carlucet
Le Bastit
Séniergues
Pont-de Fontanes-
Rhodes du Causse
Labastide-
Lamothe- Murat
Cassel
St-Martin-de-Vers

Grotte du
Pech-Merle
Cabrerets
Bouzies
Arcambal
ST-CIRQ-LAPOPIE
Aujols
Concots

Bach
Lalbenque

Puylaroque

TARN-ET-
Top right Village of Penne perched on top of a rock outcrop, see p181
Above Massive 13th–15th-century château at Lacapell-Marival, see p183 Caussade Septfonds

Réalville
Aveyron Montricoux
Nègrepelisse
ACTIVITIES
Bruniquel
Soak up the art of Toulouse-Lautrec in Albi’s Vaïssac
dedicated museum Larroque
Monclar-
Stroll around atmospheric villages such as Cordes- de-Quercy
sur-Ciel or St-Cirq-Lapopie
KEY
Marvel at the prehistoric paintings of mammoths
Drive route
and horses in the cave at Pech-Merle
Descend to the depths of a huge crater, the
Gouffre de Padirac