The charm operates instantly in this Occitanie village, with a thousand-year-old history.
France is full of hidden villages far from the hustle and bustle of big cities, retaining their architecture, charm and traditions of yesteryear. In Occitania, many medieval villages offer an authentic experience and an intimate atmosphere, with their cobbled streets and stone houses. This hidden gem of the region is one of those rare places whose existence you would hardly suspect and yet which still amaze you with its beauty.
It is a place where time seems to have stopped. Perched on a cliff overlooking the Lot valley, this village offers breathtaking panoramas and an authentic medieval atmosphere. Its half-timbered houses, its Renaissance facades in golden stone or half-timbered wood and its fortified church transport us to another century…
This village in Occitania experienced its golden age in the Middle Ages. A strategic fortress due to its geographical position, the village was an impregnable stronghold which protected the Lot Valley, shared between the noble families of Gourdon, Castelnau, Cardaillac and La Popie. Later, it was the artists and craftsmen who contributed to the fame of the village.
Welcome to Saint-Cirq-Lapopie. We take the time to explore every corner of this absolutely magnificent medieval village, classified among “The most beautiful villages in France” and elected “French favorite village” in 2012. We wander the sloping streets of this village inaccessible by car in being well shod. We will not miss its unmissable treasures of the past: from its fortified church from the beginning of the 16th century, flanked by a bell tower and a turret, to the ruins of the Cardaillac castle perched at the top, including the house of la Fourdonne, a fine example of the Renaissance period.
Nature lovers will also be won over: the village is set in a breathtaking natural setting, offering, particularly from its belvedere, spectacular views of the river flowing at its feet, the cirque of white cliffs and the surrounding Lot valley. . Finally, art lovers will not be left out: artistic creation unfolds in its numerous art galleries. Many painters represent Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, inspired by its landscapes with changing and intense light. Did you also know that the famous surrealist poet and writer André Breton, seduced by the charm of the village, stayed there many times and bought a house there?
Saint-Cirq-Lapopie is a hidden gem that offers a spectacle that you never tire of. Considered one of the major sites of the Lot valley, the village is one of the places to absolutely visit for anyone in the region.