Page 181 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - France

DRIVE 16: Lazy Rivers and Unspoilt Villages 179

PLAN YOUR DRIVE
Start/finish: Albi to Rocamadour.
Carennac Bretenoux
Sousceyrac
Number of days: 3, allowing half a
Loubressac day for Albi.
Gouffre de St-Céré
Padirac
Château de Montal Distance: 240 km (150 miles).
AUTOIRE
Padirac
Road conditions: The roads are good
and easy to drive, but take care on
Aynac
Gramat Montet-et- the narrow roads along the Lot and
Bouxal Célé valleys.
Thémines When to go: Any time of the year. The
Lacapelle-
Marival countryside is particularly beautiful in
Le Bourg
LOT spring and early summer.
Assier Opening hours: Monuments and
Livernon museums are generally open from
Figeac
Grèzes
10am to 6pm. Most sights close one
day a week, most commonly Monday.
Espagnac-Ste-Eulaile
Capdenac- Smaller sights may close over lunch
Lot Gare from noon to 2pm. Most sights will
VALLÉE DU CÉLÉ be closed on public holidays. It is
Marcilhac- Gréalou
sur-Célé advisable to confirm times with the
St-Pierre-Toirac
Célé Peyrusse- local tourist office prior to visiting.
le-Roc
Cajarc
Main market days: St Antonin-
Salvagnac-Cajarc Noble-Val: Sun; St-Cirq-Lapopie: Wed
Cénevières Cavagnac
Villeneuve Jul–Aug.
Cénevières Château
AVEYRON Shopping: Among the rich variety of
Limogne-en-Quercy
food and drink produced in the Lot,
Villefranche- truffles, chestnuts and walnuts are the
Varaire Martiel de-Rouergue most easily transportable. Cahors is
Savignac
famous for its red wine. Rocamadour
Beauregard St-Projet
Mémer is known for its goat’s milk cheese.
Sanvensa
Nôtre-Dame Crafts are made all over the Lot and
Lacapelle- des Graces Tarn but the best place to shop for
Livron
CAUSSE DE them is Cordes-sur-Ciel.
LIMOGNE
Caylus La Fouillade Major festivals: Albi: Carnival, Feb/
Château Mar; Cordes-sur-Ciel: Fêtes Médiévales
de Cas Ginals Najac
du Grand Fauconnier (medieval
GARONNE 0 kilometres 10 festival), Jul; Rocamadour: Cheese
Varen Viaur festival, Jun; Les Eclectiques, Jul;
ST-ANTONIN- 0 miles 10
NOBLE-VAL Laguépie Sacred Music Festival, Aug.
Milhars
Saint Marcel
Campes Monestiés
Cérou
Vaour
CORDES-SUR-CIEL Carmaux
Commanderie Vindrac
PENNE des Templiers Blaye-
les-Mines
TARN Vère DAYTRIP OPTIONS
Cahuzac-
sur-Vère Cestayrols The drive can easily be broken down
Castelnau- St-Juéry
de-Montmirail into separate day trips. Lovers of
Marssac- Tarn ALBI
sur-Tarn the countryside will have plenty to
Gaillac Puygouzon do around the Lot. The sights around
Tarn have a lot of rustic charm in
addition to historic villages. For
details, see p183.