Villas in Lot

No. The Lot is the department to the south-east, also known as the Quercy. Its northern edge around Souillac shares the Dordogne river, but most of it is limestone causse and the Lot and Célé valleys. For Sarlat and the Vézère valley, see our Dordogne page.

The north around Souillac and Loupiac, for Rocamadour, Padirac and canoeing on the Dordogne. The Célé valley near Conduché suits older children who like canoes, caves and cliff paths.

Brive-Souillac for the north, Toulouse for Cahors and the south, and Rodez for Figeac. Toulouse has the most flights from London. The smaller airports have mainly seasonal routes that change from year to year.

Yes. Pech Merle at Cabrerets and Cougnac near Gourdon are original painted caves open to visitors. Pech Merle limits daily numbers, so book ahead in July, August and the French school holidays.

Yes. Buses are rare and villas are spread across the countryside. Trains on the Paris to Toulouse line stop at Souillac, Gourdon and Cahors, but the caves, castles and river villages are only practical by car.

Early morning or early evening, and ideally outside July and August. The cliff-top village is one of the most visited in the Lot and its paid car parks fill by late morning in summer. The towpath walk from Bouziès is a quieter way in.

A red wine made mainly from Malbec in the Lot valley west of Cahors. It is darker and more tannic than most French reds. Many estates around Mercuès and Puy-l'Évêque sell from the cellar door.