The character of the Lot, the Causses du Quercy Regional Natural Park is limestone country; the domain of water and stone and of marvellous caves – a rambler’s paradise. Then there are the rivers’; fun in and on the Lot and swimming in the sun-bathed Dordogne. Come to Cahors, whose noble vineyards grace the river terraces on either bank of the Lot, or to Rocamadour, for a journey back in time.
In Figeac, the streets of the old town possess a charm all of their own. Around Gourdon, where the chestnut trees grow, come and meet some truly creative artists, and try the excellent local food and wine. To the south, in the Quercy Blanc, soak up the brilliant sunlight of the Midi…
The Lot will soon cast its spell over you.

Les Prinquieres can be found approximately 5 miles from Gourdon, which is the capital of the countryside called Le Bouriane in the region of Quercy, neighbouring the Périgord, whose sloping hills gently unfold to the banks of the Dordogne.
Surrounded by tourist sites among the most famous in France: 
Sarlat and the Eyzies to the North;
Rocamadour to the East;
Cahors to the South. 
The city of Gourdon boasts many fine attractions of its own. More than one visitor has fallen in love with the medieval charm of its narrow streets, its serene countryside and hamlets dotted by the stone shepherd’s cottages typical of this area.
Gourdon is arranged in tiers around the top of a hill. There are many shops and restaurants on the main street and also along the avenues up to the top of the hill, from where there is a magnificent view of the surrounding countryside. Gourdon has several supermarkets and a street market most Tuesdays and every Saturday morning.

Our local village is Fajoles, which is very small but boasts a Norman church, definitely worth paying a visit. In the months of July and August there is a market in Fajoles on a Sunday morning, the stalls are mostly local farmers and consist of fruit & veg, wine, cheese, bread, you can buy a drink of Sangria, locally made, and chat to the locals as this tends to be very popular. On occasion, when the market ends at 12pm, the trestle tables and benches are laid out for you to sit and eat lunch and drink a bottle of wine, all purchased at the market, to the accompaniment of local musicians, this can last for quite a few hours and is great fun and open to all.

The Grotte de Cougnac is just 3 miles from Les Prinquieres. These caves are well known for their natural rock formations and their Palaeolithic rock paintings (similar to those of the more famous Pech Merle and Lascaux caves) of goat like animals, mammoths, extinct long horned deer and human figures.

They say that Cahors, 45 mins drive away, is the first real town of the south with its typical red brick buildings and its confused medieval street pattern. There are cafés on the main street, with tables and chairs on the pavements and there is always somebody who seems to have time to sit and stare and watch the world go by. Visit the Cathedral St Étienne with its rare double-domed roof. The Pont Valentré over the Lot is rightly famous, one of the finest examples of medieval military architecture in France. Do not forget to walk across it and turn left to find the Fontaine de la Chartreuse – 200 yards or so on your right. This spring surges out of the rock from 750 metres below ground. It has been in use since the time of the Romans and probably before. If you are there on a Wednesday or a Saturday the picturesque market, in the Place in front of the cathedral, is everything we imagine a French provincial market ought to be.

Thirty kilometres to the east of Cahors along the valley of the Lot is a quite exceptional village, St Cirq Lapopie, built on the cliffs overlooking the Lot, with the remains of its castle right at the top. Ideally, leave the car at the next village, Bouziès, and walk along the old chemin de halage (the towpath), carved out of the cliff face on the south bank. The steep little path by a pigeonnier leading up to the village brings you out right in the village square by a pleasant café where you can have a cold beer to recover. Wander through the little alleyways and savour the atmosphere of what really is one of France’s most beautiful villages.

One of the most popular tourist attractions is the famous village, abbey and château of Rocamadour. The medieval village clings to the almost perpendicular side of the valley. Three quarters of the way up the cliff is the abbey and on top is the castle. The main reason for Rocamador’s popularity is the supposed miraculous properties of the statue of the Black Madonna, enshrined in the Cité’s smoke-blackened Chapelle Notre-Dame. The first mention of Rocamador’s Chapelle Notre-Dame dates from1105, although evidence suggests pilgrims started coming here as early as the ninth century. The abbey and the main street are linked by a long staircase, which the very devout still climb on their knees. The English King Henry II came here to repent for the murder of Thomas à Beckett, his son pillaged it for money to pay his soldiers, he died soon afterwards in nearby Martel. The battlements of the castle, for those who are not afraid of heights, are sensational and seem to hang over the main street of the village below.

Known for its seven towers Martel boasts many medieval buildings. Martel and Gramat both owe their rich architectural heritage to having been on the main road to Paris from Toulouse. 

A few kilometres from Rocamadour and Gramat is the giant Gouffre de Padirac. By any standards it is an impressive hole in the ground, 77 metres deep and 99 metres in circumference. It is one of the great geological curiosities of France. Originally it was a huge vaulted cavern beneath the surface of the Causse. Then the roof of the cavern collapsed and revealed this extraordinary feature. Access is by staircase or lift to the bottom of the gouffre, then there is a walk of several hundred yards along a tunnel to an underground river, where the journey continues by boat to visit the cavern known as the Grande Dôme, which is 91 metres from top to bottom. The cavern is of great interest for its remarkable crystalline formations built up over thousands of years.

Souillac was once an important river port on the Dordogne. In medieval times and for many centuries it was much easier to move goods by river than by road. Souillac was the point from which imported goods were delivered all over the surrounding area and from which exports went out to the rest of the world. The bridge at Souillac was not built until 1820, before that there was only a number of very dubious ferry crossings which the prudent avoided in winter. Among the streets of the town you will find the old abbey church of St Marie built in the XIIIc by the monks who drained the river valley here. Next-door is the rather different Musée de L’Automate, which is rightly a favourite with children; all sorts of rare mechanical toys are on display. The market on Fridays is also very good.

The spirit of the former boatmen’s communities and their “Gabares” is alive and well on the Dordogne. A fresh, lively river, given over to all the pleasures to be had in and on the water. Its valley is an open history-book, mysterious cave refuges, Romanesque cloisters and that formidable fortress which stands high above the bastide of Bretenoux…

Bastide De Domme is well worth a visit if only for the panoramice views across the Dordogne river.

From its rocky peak, the Medieval village dominates the valley of the Dordogne, underneath the XVIIth century Town Hall, is the entrance to the largest grotto in Perigord noir, these chalk-stone vaults lead into a magic fairy-like world. The town of Domme came to serve as a prison for the Templars; they scratched a number of graffiti on the walls, moving testimony to their faith.

Today it is very easy to hire a canoe and cruise down the river in summer from Carsac, or La Roque Gageac. You leave your car at the starting point and they drive you back at the end of the day. It is the best way to see the wonderful river valley scenery and makes a marvellous day out. You can picnic on the banks of the river and swim alongside your canoe as it drifts along with the current – all most agreeable.

Alternatively, for the less energetic take a cruise down the Dordogne on a real “Gabarre” – it’s a unique experience! The Caminade gabarres, as these flat bottomed boats are called, have been designed for your comfort and entertainment, in an idyllic setting. All boats are equipped with sun screens, the cruise lasts an hour and leaves from the magnificent fortified village of La Roque-Gageac and takes you past the Pendoïlles cliffs, the Tarde Manor, the Château and port of la Malartrie, the Saint-Julien chapel, the Lacoste, Castelnaud and Marqueyssac castels.

Sarlat-La Canéda is worthy of a visit, this lively town has some beautiful buildings and cobbled streets to explore, there is always a lovely atmosphere, whether visiting during the day or in the evening, when the cobbled lanes are illuminated by gas light, eat at one of the many restaurants to choose from. There is a popular market on Saturdays and a smaller one on Wednesday mornings.

3 miles from Les Prinquieres is the Château De Fénelon, situated between Sarlat and Souillac in an unspoiled countryside above the village, built on a hill overlooking the valley of the Dordogne and the Bouriane forest down below, it is surrounded by a triple enclosure wall and is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful chateaux in the Périgord Noir.
Built on top of a series of stony terraces, it brilliantly combines the war features of the Middle Ages with Renaissance elegance.

Fénelon is one of the last monuments in the Sarlat region still covered with lauzes (stone roofing). Besides a collection of weapons and armors, you will admire beautiful furniture and objet d’art dating back to the XV, XVI, XVII and XVIII centuries. 

Quercyrail, a rail journey that goes from Cahors or Capdenac, following the route of the original coal trains.

Le Parc Aquarium du Périgord Noir, an aquarium of thousands of different fish, with 30 pools and 5 covered visiting areas, feed the fish, play mini golf, or enjoy a picnic.

Quercyland is a water park situated in Souillac with large swimming pools with slides, fountains and diving platforms.

Le Parc Animalier de Gramat with over 300 European animals in a 3 hectare conservation area with a superb floral park.

Near Rocamadour, La Forét des Singes home to 130 Barbary macaques, that roam freely in a 20 hectare park. You can photograph and feed the monkeys.

Parc-En-Ciel is ideal for the over 7 year olds, the park is sited in a forest with 5 different courses of rope ladders and swings, alternatively you can play mini golf or visit the farm animals.

The complex of Préhistoparc is situated in an area where remains of pre-historic habitants have been found.

Préhistologia is where you can step back into the past and witness the evolution of life, and come face to face with dinosaurs, flying reptiles and great pre-historic mammals.

These are just a few of the places of interest that are all within easy reach of Les Prinquieres, why not rent a gite from us and come and discover the beauty and history of this lovely area of France for yourselves.