Lot valley and the Gouffre de Padirac

Route description

Cahors sits in a tight loop of the Lot, and its Pont Valentré, a 14th-century bridge with three towers, is the symbol of the town. Walk across and along the river, and try the dark local Malbec wine. Leave eastwards on the D653 and D662, which follow the river past limestone cliffs and small vineyards.

Turn up the Célé valley to Cabrerets for Pech Merle, a cave with original paintings of spotted horses and hand stencils; visitor numbers are limited, so book ahead. Return to the Lot for Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, perched 100 m above the river. The road along the cliff below it is narrow; park in the paid car parks above the village.

Continue up the valley to Figeac, a market town of sandstone houses and birthplace of Champollion, whose museum covers the writing systems of the world. Then drive north across the Causse de Gramat to Autoire, a village in a rocky cirque with a waterfall above it. The lanes around Autoire and Loubressac are narrow, and large motorhomes should stay on the main roads.

The Gouffre de Padirac is a 103 m chasm leading to an underground river visited partly by boat. Book a timed ticket in summer and bring a warm layer. Finish via Carennac, a quiet village on the Dordogne, and Martel to Collonges-la-Rouge, built of red sandstone. Rocamadour, on its cliff, is only 15 km from Padirac if you have another half day.