On wheels on a route through the Lot in France with family and motorhome

Welcome to our recent road trip through the Lot region of France . In this post, I'll try to explain our entire family adventure, our experience, and our opinions about this motorhome trip we took with children to explore this part of France.

Furthermore, if you wish, you can complete your route, as we did, with a route through the neighboring department of Lot, the Dordogne, and visit the 15 must-see sights in the Black Périgord , an area that, together with the Lot, will make you fall in love.

We just got back from this French department, and the Lot region, whether with kids, as a family, or however you're traveling, never disappoints . I can only speak highly of the Lot.

It is our second visit to El Lot and we are still in love with it and want to visit even more. There is no small town or corner that does not have charm, monument, castle or surprising cave!

Its landscapes and tranquility are another of the charms of this French department that I must highlight. In the Lot, there are generally no large crowds or big cities, and nature is present throughout most of the territory. The Causs-Quercy Regional Park covers a large part of its territory, which makes it simply more wonderful!

About us

Our trip through the Lot France

As I mentioned before, we did this route through the Lot region in a motorhome. France is always easy and wonderful by motorhome, so whenever we can, we escape there this way.

But don't worry, if you're not traveling in a motorhome or campervan, 100% of this article will still be useful. I simply won't be able to recommend tourist accommodations in the Lot Valley other than campsites, although if you're interested, I can tell you about some we liked during our trip; it's a really well-equipped area for camping.

Otherwise, you'll surely find our route, opinions, and advice from our experience in the Lot region useful, especially if you're looking for a blog about a trip to the Lot that tells you things exactly as they are, from our own experience and with sincere opinions.

Initial planning of the trip to the Lot

We designed our Lot route to make our trip to the Lot an unforgettable vacation , searching for the best places , things to do, and things to see that would appeal to both adults and children . We explored medieval Lot , but also its hiking and nature trails , and of course, we were eager to discover the Lot's gastronomy.

In short, and thanks also to research on other blogs and the help of the Lot and Grand Figeac tourist offices , we ended up designing our route through the Lot which, after enjoying it, we can say that we recommend it without a second thought.

Video summary of our route through the Lot France

On our trip to the Lot region in France, we passed through towns and cities such as Cahors, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, Figeac, Rocamadour, Cardaillac, Capdenac-le-haut, Corn, Espagnac, Brengues, among others. We explored the Lot Valley , the Causses du Quercy Regional Natural Park , visited the Valentré Bridge, the Cahors Cathedral, the Champollion Museum of World Writings, and enjoyed hiking, cultural visits, visits to local markets, and, of course, sampled the local cuisine.

A trip that you can see in this video summary of the entire route with a little of everything: culture, gastronomy, sports, nature, museums, outdoor activities, guided tours.

The Lot: what it is, where it is and how to get to the Lot

Before our route through the Dordogne Perigord in a motorhome , we arrived at the initial destination of our new trip and route that will start the next day and that in total will be a 4-stage route through the Lot that I will tell you about below.

Actually, the administrative and official name of the French department we will visit on this route is simply Lot , although as a tourist destination the brand and name Lot Valley is often used , thus highlighting the river and valley that runs through its main tourist destinations in the Lot department of France.

In case you don't know, in France they are organized territorially into Regions and Departments. The Regions are equivalent to our Autonomous Communities and the Departments are equivalent to our provinces. In France there are 18 regions and 96 departments, plus 5 that are located overseas.

The Lot department is located in the Occitanie region of southern France. Its capital, or prefecture as it's called in France, is Cahors, and Figeac is the second most important city in Lot , a sub-prefecture.

The Lot areas: Rocamadour, Figeac, Lot Valley, Dordogne Valley and Célé Valley

There are currently five areas that could be used to divide the Lot department for tourism. These areas encompass the valleys formed by its three main rivers: the Lot Valley, the most famous; the Dordogne Valley , which flows through the Lot; and the Célé Valley. Also included are the Rocamadour and Figeac areas, two of its most important tourist destinations.

On our trip, we will focus on visiting Rocamadour and its surroundings, Figeac and its surroundings, the Lot Valley and the Célé Valley and we will leave the Dordogne Valley to visit it in the Dordogne Perigord department later. Basically around these 4 locations we divide our route into 4 stages along the Lot.

How to get to France to the Lot department

Regarding how to get to the Lot region in France, you have several options.

To begin, I will explain our own experience to you, then I will try to explain the rest of the options to get to The Lot in France with alternative transportation to your own vehicle.

Getting to the Lot Valley with your own vehicle: our experience

Just as we did on our motorhome trip through the Lot , you can access the Lot region by road in your own vehicle, car, motorhome or camper van.

The roads from Spain to France are all in very good condition , whether they are national roads or motorways.

In our case, we left Barcelona for the Lot region by taking the AP-7 to Narbonne, heading towards Carcassonne. There, we took the A-61 to Toulouse, and from there we continued straight on the A-20 until we reached the Lot region. If you've never visited Carcassonne, this is a must-see first stop on your route.

We arrived in the Lot region through its south-central-western gateway, the Lot River Valley area, and its capital Cahors.

The motorway is very good all the way and it's almost a 5-hour drive from Barcelona, ​​but it's easily manageable even in a single day.

The cost of our trip from Barcelona to the Lot and back in our vehicle was just under €500.

How to get to El Lot by plane and how to get around there: Lot airports and transport

Near the Lot there are two airports where you can go and from there rent a car to get to the Lot.

The two main access airports to the Lot region are:

• The airport Bordeaux
• The airport Toulouse-Blagnac.

Practical information about our trip to the Lot, France

Next, before moving on to the explanation of our route, itinerary and visits made regarding the things you can do and see in The Lot , I will quickly summarize what our trip to The Lot in a motorhome with children and as a family has been like.

I'll tell you how many days we were there, on what dates , what our budget and expenses were for the four of us in the family, and finally I'm going to try to summarize what was the best and worst of our route and trip to the Lot , so that you have clues about what to prioritize or avoid on your trip to the Lot.

Days of our route through El Lot

A 6-day route through El Lot, where one day is used to go and another to return to Barcelona, ​​where we started.

When we have made the trip to the Lot

Travel during Holy Week , at the end of March and beginning of April, in spring.

Let me tell you at this point that Easter there does not have as many holidays as here in Spain, but they do have a holiday on Easter Monday and that long weekend is like high season. Everything is now open and there are usually more people in all the visiting places than the previous days of that week.

Travel budget

If you're wondering how much a 6-day trip to the Lot costs, below are our expenses for a group of 4 people : 2 adults and 2 children:

• Gasoline + tolls: 500 €uros, going and returning from Barcelona
• Tickets and activities: €120
• Hospitality and other purchases in supermarkets: €380

In total: approximately €1000, €250 per head.

Here you'd need to consider the accommodation you choose; to avoid confusion, I haven't included our costs for campsites and motorhome areas. On average, campsites cost us €35 per night at this time of year for two children, two adults, and a dog in a motorhome pitch.

 The best and worst of our trip through the Lot

To conclude our summary of our route through the Lot, we like to try to summarize what was the best and worst part of the trip.

It's something we like to do on the way back from our routes, while driving home. A way to close the trip and finish reliving it.

We talk among the 4 of the family and take stock of the trip, highlighting what we liked the most and the worst in the opinion of each one.

So, please consider this to be the humble opinion of a traveling family , nothing too rigorous, simply our own experience. Keep in mind that you might have a different experience when you go, and your opinion could be different.

The best of the Lot on our route

For us the best of these days in the Lot has been:

• La quiet and few people that we have found in all places, including in Rocamadour. Here I imagine it was because the day we visited it was raining a lot.
  • The great discovery of Cèlé Valley. It surprised us in each of its towns. They all had something peculiar and precious: water fountains that come out of the rock and form waterfalls, troglodyte houses embedded in the rock walls that form the Causes Quercy, fairy-tale abbeys, beautiful beaches of the Cèle River, impressive hiking routes between cliffs, castles in the rock and fairytale forests like the Sentier des Anglais, which I tell you about below.
  • The such beautiful towns which have been classified as one of the most beautiful in France. Above all we consider essential: Sant Cirq Lapopie.
  • Figeac we loved it and surprised us with its medieval old town so big and well preserved, not even electricity cables can be seen on the streets!
  • Knowing the history of Champollion in Figeac, Egyptologist who deciphered Egyptian hieroglyphics through the rosette stone. What a great story about this man! Inspiring for young and old. Plus, we loved it when he explained it to us. Audrey, a Figeac tourist guide in Spanish. For 15 euros for an adult and 5 for a child, you get a very cool guided tour throughout the morning that you can't miss if you go to Figeac. I leave you here his WhatsApp to book a visit if you want: 00 33 664809415 He speaks Spanish very well and knows everything about Figeac and the Lot!

The positive things do not end:

• Visit museum of world writings and Champollion from Figeac, Incredible everything you can learn there!
  • El liver of the menus and daily specials in the restaurants, which are cheaper there than in other areas of the Dordogne.
  • El Valentré bridge in Cahors, UNESCO World Heritage and the Roman pools of Cahors.
  • Rocamadour, all of it: spiritual and precious place where those there in France. It is the second most visited town, outside of Paris. The first Mont Saint Michell.
  • Almost all the visiting places have been free to see in the Lot: the Valentré bridge, abbeys, castle towers...
  • Dine with music at Capdenac le Haut, one of the most beautiful towns in France in the Oltís creperie, highly recommended.

The worst thing about the Lot on our trip

I have to say that it has been difficult for us on this trip to get bad things out of our trip to the Lot. Curious but true. But as there are, here they go:

• El little existing parking in the villages of the Céle Valley. In high season it must surely be very difficult to park. And there is not even a motorhome area in this valley, although there are municipal campsites in almost every town.
  • In the village of Saint Sulpice we could not park the motorhome anywhere site, rather than a remote roadside siding on the outskirts. It wasn't easy for cars either, other than a small parking lot at the top of the town in the church, with steep access and through very narrow streets.
  • Campsites are closed from October to April most.
  • Due to the flooding of the Lot and Cele river At the end of March we were not able to do any kayak excursions of the many that are made in the area.
  • El Assier castle We found it closed, it only opens every day in summer. Of course, it must be very cool to see inside!
  • There was no long greenway to travel by bicycle, something that we like to do on all our family routes. There was only one in Cahors next to the river and we didn't see very long outside.
  • El access to Cardaillac With the motorhome it was quite complicated, the GPS sent us along the narrowest road, on which two cars did not pass between farms. It is better to pass through the one that passes through Fourmagnac, not that it is very wide but wider than the one we passed through on the way out. Thank goodness no one passed by!
  • Our It rained practically every night and it sparkled for some mornings, but with the lack of water we have here in Catalonia, it was a joy to walk in the rain sometimes.
  • and that the trip is over so soon!

By motorhome through the Lot and our motorhome route through the Lot: things to know

If you are traveling by motorhome, like us, in this section I want to tell you that the Lot region is fully prepared for motorhome travel, like most of France.

There are municipal areas and campsites in most towns at reasonable prices and where you can camp without fear of fines and enjoy the world of caravanning.

In the description below of our route, I will detail the parking and overnight places to help you if you are also going to do a route through the Lot in a motorhome.

Our route through the Lot France

We'll leave the summary of our Lot route now and go into detail so you can find out what to see in the Lot and what route you could take.

So, based on our experience from our last trip through the Lot region, we propose here a 4-stage route through the best of this French department.

Video summary of our entire route through the Lot France

STAGE 1: Route through the Lot Valley France

Our 4-stage route with the must-see sights in the Lot Valley by car, campervan or however you travel, begins with a route through the Lot Valley in France, where we have written an article about its 6 must-sees.

The route begins in the city of Cahors, to see one of the Lot Valley's must-see sights: the Devil's Bridge . It then continues along the river through its small villages, visiting Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, one of the most beautiful villages, and ending in Capdenac , another of France's most beautiful villages , as the final stop on this tour of the Lot Valley in France.

What to see in the Lot Valley

We're starting our route to enjoy everything there is to see in the Lot Valley, one of the top destinations in the Lot region of France.

Cahors and the Valentreé Bridge in Cahors, World Heritage Site

We begin our route through one of the best entrances to the Lot: Cahors, its capital, where we already wrote an article about what to see in Cahors.

We arrived here at night at their free public motorhome area . A free shuttle bus departs from this parking lot to the city center. From here, you can also reach the center in 15 minutes on foot. The motorhome area is also shared with cars . It's a very convenient city park and ride for any vehicle, and it also has services for motorhomes.

Our visit to Cahors: what to see in Cahors

From the motorhome area, the next day we set off to visit Cahors, the capital of the Lot region. We've written an article about everything there is to see in Cahors that you absolutely can't miss.

We headed towards the center and in the first large square with a fountain we found the tourist office. Right in front of it began the medieval cobbled streets of the historic center.

In front of the Cathedral this Saturday there was one of those markets that people in the Lot region speak so highly of. The Saint-Étienne Cathedral in Cahors is a majestic 12th-century Gothic cathedral. Its architecture and stained-glass windows are breathtaking; it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site , and its rounded domes are reminiscent of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.

After wandering around and discovering some secret gardens tucked away in alleyways, we strolled through large parks filled with Malbec vineyards , famous for their excellent wine. Then we reached the Lot River, where boats usually offer tours, but in the off-season, everything is incredibly peaceful. There, we climbed up and crossed the Pont de Valentré, an iconic medieval bridge with fortified towers, a UNESCO World Heritage Site . It was a delightful surprise. Access is free ; the Pont d'Avignon, which is very similar, requires an entrance fee.

Crossing the Valentré bridge, we turned left and in 5 minutes arrived to marvel at the turquoise Roman pools under some rocks . This was our last visit, and we returned to the motorhome, strolling along the banks of the Lot River on the greenway in the city of Cahors.

Visit Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, one of the most beautiful towns in France and the Lot Valley in France

We continue our journey through the Lot Valley and head towards one of the most beautiful villages in France. A village that we can vouch for; if it's not the most beautiful, it's certainly one of the most beautiful we've seen in France—and we've seen quite a few!

We park in the Sant-Cirq Lapopie motorhome parking lot, belonging to the Le Plage campsite , in the lower part of Saint Cirqu Lapopie and next to the Lot River with a beautiful panoramic view.

This motorhome and camping area is one of the best on our route through the Lot region for enjoying camping . The pitches and surroundings are excellent.

Once settled in, we took the path beside the river and then the cobbled turnoff to climb up to the village . A 10-minute walk brought us to the top of Saint Cirq . The first thing that struck us upon reaching the rocky cliff that supports Saint Cirq was the view. It's incredible to see the Lot River in France and the valley it forms from Saint Cirq to Lapopie . You won't stop taking a thousand photos!

The village couldn't be more beautiful, cobbled houses with typical Lot-style reddish roofs, arranged as if in a parade, among artisan workshops and restaurants with lovely terraces.

There's a tourist office and you can't miss going up to the top viewpoint.

A town to simply enjoy and feel like you are in a story.

Capdenac- Le Haut, one of the most beautiful villages in France

We arrived at our last stop in the Lot Valley, France , but not before taking an impressive road trip along the banks of the Lot River through beautiful little villages and the stunning rock cliffs of the Casusas-Quercy National Park.

In Capdenac – Le Haut, we parked in the designated motorhome parking area , just behind the regular car park. However, we found it closed. Due to the rain, the grassy area was completely flooded and muddy, and it was clear that some motorhomes had gotten stuck there earlier, judging by the mud.

Without a problem we parked in the parking lot in front of cars, almost empty. Next door there is a playground and a booth with exchange books and my children enjoy a good time.

Capdenac – Le Haut, is the upper Capdenac, the historic medieval one, but from the parking lot we look out and see the Lot River below the mountain and next to it Capdenac and its curious reproduction of the Eiffel Tower in the distance.

At the entrance to Capdenac Le Haut, we found a map of a planned route, which we followed. It's a beautiful medieval village with cobbled streets and remnants of its Roman walls. They say it was the last Gallic village to fall to the Romans , and that it's the one that actually inspired Asterix and Obelix, although many believe it was in Brittany, France.

The anecdote of the Capdenac animals

From our visit, I curiously remember the animals of the village as one of those curious points that travel leaves a trace for us.

Firstly, because of the several affectionate cats we encountered on our stroll through its streets—very affectionate indeed! And secondly, because of the curious donkey that kept calling its owner insistently from the doorway, hehehe. You can see it in the video we have on YouTube.

Aside from that, Capdenac surprised us with its hidden corners . Like a garden with a giant insect house , the largest we'd ever seen. Or the Roman baths located beneath a steep staircase ; if you want to access them, you must first go to the tourist office to get the keys. In our case, we were disappointed, as the tourist office was closed.

Besides that, the corner above the church at the base of the castle wall, next to the remaining tower, is beautiful with its fountain and gardens , as is the balcony with the monument to the fallen at the end of the church street. Every corner in Capdenac has something special.

Before leaving after our lovely visit, we were lucky enough to stumble upon the Oltís creperie . That very evening, there was a live musical duo playing, which we absolutely loved! What a fantastic atmosphere this restaurant had for such a small village! We loved having dinner there and ending our evening in Capedenac-le-Haut in such a wonderful way.

STAGE 2: Figeac, the second essential town in the Lot

We continue our route through Stage 2 to visit Figeac this time, the second most important town in the Lot region of France.

We arrived in Figeac at night. There are two motorhome areas in Figeac , and we decided to go up to the one at the top of the town. Figeac is a small town of about 20.000 inhabitants, but as you can see, they cater to motorhome owners doubly.

The stadium's motorhome area, at the top of Figeac, is shared with cars but has free reserved spaces and services where you only pay 2 euros to refill the water.

From there in 1 minute you are in the medieval town of Figeac.

The first thing that surprises us is precisely this medieval old town . It's very well-maintained, clean, and quite large , with excellent preservation . You can't even see the power lines in the streets, something that immediately catches my eye. It has charming squares and a great number of shops, cafes, restaurants, and a vibrant atmosphere thanks to its residents.

We loved the atmosphere immediately and after an evening walk we sat down at the Le Seth restaurant to have something to eat. The food is very good, although the prices are not so good.

Guided tour day to discover the adventure of Champollion in Figeac

The next day, we had booked a guided tour with a local Spanish-speaking guide from the Lot region : Audrey, from Aventures & Vous.

Audrey would show us Figeac through the story of Champollion in Spanish. For €15 per adult and €5 per child, she gives a fantastic guided tour that lasts all morning and is not to be missed if you go to Figeac. Here's her WhatsApp number to book a tour if you'd like: +33 664809415. She speaks excellent Spanish and knows everything about Figeac and the Lot region! The tourist office gave us her contact information, and it was a great find!

Figeac is important because of Champollion, the Egyptologist who was an expert in languages ​​and writing and who deciphered hieroglyphics with the Rosetta Stone , with a beautiful and curious history.

After visiting the best spots in Figeac with Audrey and taking us to the best viewpoint in the city on a beautiful little trek through the forest , we went to eat at a small restaurant opposite the tourist office, Marché des Délices, which had a daily special and was a great choice, good price and good food.

After lunch, we finally set off to visit the great Champollion Museum, the world's largest museum of scripts. This museum left us speechless, revealing a world of writing throughout history, much of which remains undeciphered. It's not to be missed.

Figeac has really been one of the great surprises on our route so far, we have loved it!

STAGE 3: The Célé Valley, the unknown jewel of the Lot

We continue our route through Stage 3 to discover a surprising and unknown valley in the Lot full of fascinating places: The Célé Valley.

The valley, which begins at the gates of Figeac, undulates along the Célé River and gradually embraces the wild, golden landscapes of the Caucasus du Quercy Natural Park . Perhaps that's why it's such a special and wonderful place.

After the old chapel of Saint-Martin de Camboulit and the village of Boussac, the river flows through two charming villages: Corn and Espagnac-Sainte-Eulalie, which are the first we visit. These two villages are also on the GR 651, one of the routes of the famous GR 65, the French Way of St. James.

Corn, the town of water magic

Our first stop in the Cele Valley is a small village: Corn. The village immediately catches our eye because of its water , which flows through the heart of the village in the form of a waterfall and stream. A spring emerges as if by magic from a cave , feeding an old washhouse and babbling through the village with a delightful murmur.

To visit the town in this case we parked at the exit of the town in the parking lot of the town's social hall. It is next to the Cele River and is a totally quiet and beautiful place to stop on our route to eat.

The town is cute, don't miss it. And if you fancy a picnic, take advantage of the picnic area next to the fountain, it's wonderful.

Espagnac-Sainte-Eulalie, a pilgrim abbey

After Corn, we planned to stop in Espagnac , but motorhomes were prohibited from entering the town. However, we were shown signs along the road indicating a parking area. We parked there and, in two minutes on foot, crossed the bridge to visit Espagnac and its famous abbey.

This village truly looks like a picture postcard with its magnificently preserved 13th-century priory . The priory is called Notre Dame du Val Paradis , and it really does look like paradise! It sits beside the Célè River, with little beaches that must be a delight for the feet of the pilgrims who come here to stay during the summer.

Something else that catches the eye in Espagnac is the wooden statue representing the pilgrim with his staff, reminding us that we are on the GR 651 route to Santiago.

Brengues, stop to do the Sentier des Anglais

Our next stop in the Célè Valley has one purpose: to do one of the essential hiking routes in the Lot.

When we arrived, the Brengues municipal campsite was closed, so we had to park in the only parking lot next to the road in this town. Right in front of the parking lot is a restaurant that looked very nice, but unfortunately for us, it was closed that day.

In that parking lot, we found two vans. Since we took the Cele Valley we had not seen any motorhome or van yet.

We parked, packed our picnic backpacks, and set off on an 8 km hike with 260 meters of elevation gain —a route that seemed easy enough. However, I should warn you that if you're hiking with children under 5, be careful, as there's a very narrow section of path that runs right up against a precipice ; it could be tricky for young children.

The route starts next to the church in Brengues ; there is an information panel there . Follow the yellow markers at all times , and the path is very well signposted.

We follow the yellow trails until after a good while of climbing we see a stone gate that looks medieval, there we enter the Sentier des Anglais where we will visit the remains of the Chateau des Anglais , a 12th century fortification embedded in the cliff rock.

The section that starts from the fortified gate ahead is the most spectacular section of the route. Next to the cliff and where the rock becomes a rock shelter that seems to envelop us. After a little while, we see the Chateau des Anglais, it is very close. It has an information panel and they warn us that currently it cannot be visited inside.

Now, we are only approximately 3 km away and there are 5 km left of the complete circular loop of the route we want to complete.

We continue and the path becomes safer for children after about 3,5 km.

We passed by some springs and along paths through mossy beech forests and past moss-covered dry stone walls reminiscent of Brittany, France. The path is beautiful.

At kilometer 4, reaching a wide paved road where cars pass, there's a fork in the path: one for a shorter route, and the other for a longer 8-kilometer route . We chose the second option to explore the other side of the Cele Valley forests.

The route goes uphill, but then it's all downhill and the path in this other half of the trail is wider and easier.

Without a doubt a route that you cannot miss on your trip through the Lot, beautiful!

Saint Sulpice and its troglodyte houses

I had read that Saint Sulpice was the star holiday destination in this valley par excellence . Also, that it had a magnificent campsite with swimming areas in the river and pools , and that the village with its troglodyte houses was beautiful.

It really must be like this in the middle of August, but now at the beginning of April we find the campsite closed and without any option to park the motorhome. We can only stop for a moment in a parking lot far from the town, a siding off the main road of the valley.

There we left our vehicle to make an express visit to this town.

First, you have to climb up, and once you're at the top, the main street is already beautiful. Head to the right of the street, and at the end there's a viewpoint with a cross where you can see the stunning rock cliff with the troglodyte houses. Don't miss the chance to take photos from this viewpoint.

I want to make a point here. When we talk about troglodyte houses , many people imagine prehistoric cave dwellings, but no, that's not the meaning of troglodyte. Troglodyte refers to someone who lives in a cave dwelling , and it doesn't necessarily have to be prehistoric.

That's why when I talk about troglodyte houses, I'm referring to beautiful, well-preserved medieval houses dug into the rock that seem to be suspended on the cliff by magic.

After the viewpoint on the right, I advise you to go to the left, as we did, and after passing the Romanesque church, continue on to enter the troglodyte neighborhood of the houses you photographed at the first viewpoint – spectacular!

Marcillac-sur-Céle

Here's our last stop in the Célè valley: Marcillac-sur-Céle , a village that's more than beautiful, it's gorgeous!

On the banks of the Célè, with bathing areas and for canoeing on the Célè, this village preserves a medieval jewel.

An incredible, partially ruined abbey that will make you fall in love with the place instantly. All of this is accompanied by dizzying cliffs that seem to embrace the village above the Cele River.

Saint Pierre Abbey dates back to the 9th century and was founded by Benedictine monks. While some of the remains of its cloister were destroyed during wars, the church and several rooms are in excellent condition and can be visited freely.

To park there is only one parking lot or next to the road, both are suitable for motorhomes and vans if you are itinerant travelers like us.

Another of the attractions of Marcillac-sur-Céle is a path that takes you through the old dry stone houses in the area. In this case we couldn't do it, but it was left for us next time. Causas Quercy is a spectacular Natural Park and in this valley any walk you can take among its cliffs and fields is worth it.

STAGE 4: Towards Rocamadour, the diamond of the Lot

We continue our route through Stage 4 and the last of our trip through the Lot in a motorhome with children that we are doing as a family.

In this stage we will head north and take a route from Cardaillac , one of the most beautiful villages in France, to Rocamadour with an intermediate stop in a village with a beautiful castle: Assier.

Cardaillac, the town of the three towers

We began this leg of our journey in Cardaillac, one of the villages listed as the most beautiful in France. This medieval village , fortunately for us traveling in a motorhome, has a free motorhome area where we can fill up our water tanks and empty our waste tanks.

From the Cardaillac motorhome area, we prepare to visit this beautiful town. The first thing we visit is its beautiful church. A church that is right in front of the Cardaillac motorhome area.

Then we went down its main street where we found a food store, where we bought some local products , and a bakery that makes breakfasts that delight travelers.

At the end of the street, we find the entrance to the oldest medieval part of Cardaillac, where we can see the famous three towers of Cardaillac : one circular and two square . These towers represent the power of the different branches of the noble Cardaillac family; each branch built a tower to demonstrate their influence in the town.

The first tower we find is a square tower with a tourist office sign, now closed. It has a staircase in the back and the door is open, it is free and open access, we can climb to the top.

The views from the top of this tower are breathtaking. From there, besides seeing the village with its two other towers, you can see the Sagala forest , a woodland of beech, fir, and chestnut trees that makes you want to set off on a good hiking trail.

After seeing the medieval old town with its three towers, we set out to visit the Eclaté museum, a museum that we read is somewhat curious, where you can see a lot of the history of this municipality, and which runs like a circuit in one of the neighborhoods of Cardaillac. When we arrive, we are not lucky, it is closed, we have arrived late.

Our last visit to Cardaillac, however, does not end here with this small disappointment of not being able to visit its museum.

We set off to visit its Medieval Garden . Descending some stairs, we enter some beautiful wooden washhouses , and directly ahead we see a meticulously maintained medieval garden, where no detail has been overlooked. A very friendly local also points out a walking path further along the path, making this end of the evening in Cardaillac even more delightful.

We can say that Cardaillac is beautiful, and the only downside to this village is its access if you're traveling by motorhome. There are two access roads to Cardaillac, and the first one, which the GPS took us on, is completely inadvisable. Remember to take the Fourmagnac road ; it's not exactly a motorway, but at least two cars can fit side-by-side. The other road barely fits one car, and even then, it's practically touching.

Assier, a beautiful castle that we want to see inside

After the visit to Cardaillac, our next visit was to a small town where we can say that there was more life with small shops and open bars. In Assier, just entering you could sense that there was a lot of local life.

We parked in the parking lot right at the entrance to the town, next to a playground and picnic area next to the town's canal and pond. The only bad thing about this parking lot is that it is next to the road, but otherwise it is ideal if you go with children to spend some time with them in the park.

From the parking lot bordering the canal along a path we arrive as if to a pond and we can now access the Assier castle, the great attraction that we came to visit.

From the outside, this castle seems beautiful to us and you can see a very large complex of gardens and buildings. Upon arriving at the entrance, we found it closed until summer, they do not open daily and now in April it is only by prior reservation, a shame to have planned this before. We tend to be very planners, but there are things that always slip through the cracks.

In any case, we take a walk through the town, see its church and complete the visit of a town that also seems charming to us and draws our attention for its local life, despite also being small.

Rocamadour

We arrived at our last stop on this route through the Lot and perhaps the stop that we could call the jewel in the crown of the Lot: Rocamadour awaited us.

Rocamadour is the second most visited village in France . The first is Mont-Saint Michel.

First of all, you should know that Rocamadour isn't just impressive because it seems to hang suspended on a rock above a spectacular canyon . It's impressive because it's a place full of spirituality and steeped in history, filled with pilgrims.

To visit Rocamadour, you must park in its upper area, where you will find many different parking lots, but all of them pay. There are two reserved parking spaces for motorhomes. The first one, where we parked, is the one next to the bus parking lot, next to the Rocamadour castle. It is a good parking lot to visit Rocamadour to start the visit by visiting Rocamadour from the castle down the path of the crosses and leaving the viewpoints for last.

Lot France map of what to see and do in the Lot

Below, you have an interactive Google Maps map where you have all the points we talked about in this route proposal.