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Lot Valley Attractions

The river Lot is a river relatively little known outside France, though its valley has stretches of scenic beauty which fall little short of the grandeur of the Tarn valley.

The Lot rises at an altitude of 1,400m/4,600ft on Mont Goulet in the Cévennes, flows through the whole of the southern Massif Central and after traversing Quercy joins the Garonne in the Agenais (the region round Agen) after a total course of 480km/300mi. In earlier times it was an important navigable waterway, linking Auvergne and the town of Cahors with Bordeaux. It is now popular with canoe and kayak enthusiasts, who find excitement in traversing the gorges between Espalion and Entraygues - though the less expert will do well to keep below Entraygues.

The scenery of the Lot valley alternates between the gently beautiful and the wild and rugged. The roads which run through the valley give visitors an excellent opportunity of enjoying the scenery of this most characteristic of French rivers and seeing its towns and villages.

The most striking section of the valley is in the Gorges du Lot, the succession of gorges which, particularly between Estaing and Pont de Coursavy, challenge comparison with the gorges of the Tarn. Here the valley is caught between walls of rock some 300m/1,000ft high. At Entraygues-sur- Truyère the Lot is joined by the Truyère, with the impressive Gorges de la Truyère, which cut through the hills of Auvergne to the Viaduc de Garabit, interrupted by a number of imposing dams and beautiful artificial lakes; for much of the way, however, the road runs at some distance from the river. There is also a dam in the Gorges du Lot, at Golinhac, near Estaing.
Château de Bonaguil
Near Duravel, some distance from the Lot, is the massive castle of Bonaguil, a magnificent example of military architecture of the turn of the 15th-16th centuries, still impressive in spite of the damage it suffered during the French Revolution.
Entraygues, France
Entraygues (pop. 1,267) lies in a fertile hilly region at the junction of the Truyère and the Lot. It is a charming old town; particularly attractive is the Rue Basse, which has preserved its medieval aspect almost intact. The Truyère is spanned by a Gothic bridge.
Address
Entraygues-sur-truyere Tourist Office
Place de la République
F-12140 Entraygues-sur-truyere
France
Espalion, France
Espalion (pop. 4,400) is a picturesque and attractive little town, with an old bridge spanning the Lot. The Vieux Palais is a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture. The church of St-Jean now houses the Musée du Rouergue et Joseph Vaylet (objets d'art, ethnography). The little Romanesque church of St-Hilarion has a fine tympanum.

Outside the town is the Château de Roquelaure, from which there is a marvelous view of the Lot valley. Below the Château is a Romanesque chapel, with a 15th C. "Entombment" and a 16th C. "Pietà".
Address
Espalion Tourist Office
2 rue Saint Antoine
F-12500 Espalion
France
Estaing, France
The old-world little town Estaing (pop. 610) is charmingly situated at a point where the Lot valley opens out a little. The river is spanned by a 15th C. bridge. Above the town is an elegant 15th-16th C. château, from the terrace of which there are fine views. The 15th C. church contains the relics of St Fleuret.
Address
Estaing Tourist Office
24 rue François d'Estaing - Mairie
F-12190 Estaing
France
Lacave Caves
Lacave Caves have several galleries, each given separate names, including the Chaos Room, the Tarasque Room, the Snow Corridor, the Three Fates Room and the Organ Room, to name a few. The Great Dome Room is 60 meters high. There are also numerous limestone formations, including the Spider-footed Pillar, which has the biggest helictites in Europe. Also impressive is the 2,000-square-meter Room of Marvels.
Address
Grottes de Lacave
F-46200 Lacave
France
Hours
July 15 to August 31
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open9:009:009:009:009:009:009:00
Close18:3018:3018:3018:3018:3018:3018:30
September 1 to July 14
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open10:0010:0010:0010:0010:0010:0010:00
Close12:0012:0012:0012:0012:0012:0012:00
Open14:0014:0014:0014:0014:0014:0014:00
Close17:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:00
Guides
Guided tour included with admission.
Typical Visit
1 hour 15 minutes
Rocamadour - Merveilles Grotto
Merveilles Grotto is 45-meter-long and includes petrified tree roots which pierce through the cave ceiling. Limestone formations and stalactites can also be seen throughout the cave. More important are the paleolithic decorations, including negative handprints, paintings and drawings of horses, stags and felines.
Address
Grotte des Merveilles
F-46000 Rocamadour
France
Hours
April 1 to June 30
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open10:0010:0010:0010:0010:0010:0010:00
Close12:0012:0012:0012:0012:0012:0012:00
Open14:0014:0014:0014:0014:0014:0014:00
Close18:0018:0018:0018:0018:0018:0018:00
July 1 to August 31
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open9:309:309:309:309:309:309:30
Close19:0019:0019:0019:0019:0019:0019:00
September 1 to November 30
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open10:0010:0010:0010:0010:0010:0010:00
Close12:0012:0012:0012:0012:0012:0012:00
Open14:0014:0014:0014:0014:0014:0014:00
Close18:0018:0018:0018:0018:0018:0018:00
Tips
Open for groups by prior arrangement.
Guides
Guided tour included with admission.
Typical Visit
35 minutes
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