Considered the most beautiful 100 km in France, the road along the banks of the River Lot leading to St Cirq Lapopie will delight at every turn. Tour nearby chateaux, dine on wonderful gourmet meals and taste the acclaimed, regional “Black Wine of Cahors,” made primarily from the Malbec grape. View “Trogolodyte Houses” as you drive along from village to village. Behind the medieval house front on the flat face of the cliff are rooms and living quarters in prehistoric caves.

Kayak, canoe or swim in the river. There is great hiking and magnificent biking in the region. It is a slice of heaven for spelunking. There are boat tours, living museums and wildlife parks, ancient mills and locks on the river, and at least one thriving market in a nearby, beautiful village every day. Fishing, horseback riding, tennis and birdwatching.  It goes on and on. Rainy days? We have puzzles and a fun English-language “French library.” What is not to like? There is really more to do in the area than you can imagine. To plan your day or your week, you can find on line a wonderful map with a checklist of options, which you can organize by interest, location, open days, etc. at Tourism Lot.

Visit prehistoric original cave paintings at Pech Merle, 15 minutes away. Peche Merle is one of the few original caves remaining which are open to the public – a great activity for a rainy day. There are festivals and events in or near the village throughout the season. The Tourist Office at the top of the village will have details.

Wine tasting at the many outstanding wineries in and around Cahors is a wonderful day trip. There are numerous wineries just West of Cahors. The world-famous wineries of Bourdeaux and St. Emilion are a half-day’s drive from the village. But why drive so far when you can have the unique experience of tasting the famous (and historically more prized!) “Black Wine of Cahors“?

The famous Tour de France climbs of the Pyrenees are similarly less than a half-day away. But again, why leave your own slice of Bicycle Heaven?