Lot Valley

It is a majestic valley where the Lot is nestled, which is very wide and largely navigable here. The Lot Valley is one of the tourist lungs of Lot-et-Garonne but also one of its main agricultural centers. It is here in particular that we find the majority of the plum orchard used to produce the famous Agen prune. It also constitutes the transition between the borders of Périgord and Agenais. The viewpoints along the valley offer splendid panoramas as far as Aiguillon where the Lot meets the Garonne, a major river in the southwest.

Villeneuve-sur-Lot

At the heart of this rich valley, Villeneuve-sur-Lot plays the role of regional capital with multiple attractions. The town can be the starting point for a visit to the valley upstream or downstream.

It took fifteen years of construction to see the birth of Villeneuve-sur-Lot, the region's largest royal bastide, with a typical checkerboard layout. It has perfectly aligned streets and alleys and squares and little squares that provide many places for walking and socializing. Villeneuve has retained a strong commercial activity over the years and the streets are very lively on weekends and market days.

When you arrive in Villeneuve-sur-Lot, you will first be struck by the colour of the town and in particular its ochre brick cathedral. You can visit the two towers of Pujols and Paris.

• The Pujols tower dates from the 14th century. It owes its name to the splendid village of Pujols which overlooks Villeneuve in its extension.
• The Paris Tower can be visited. It is a survivor of the 8 gates and 6 towers of the city, destroyed at the end of the 18th century. On the 1st floor, discover the place where the municipal archives were once kept and on the 3rd, what once served as a prison.

Stroll leisurely through the streets of the old town to discover the Saint-Martin church and many old half-timbered houses.

Finally, stop at the old 13th century bridge which will offer you a magnificent view of the Lot and its banks.

Pujols @ Lot et Garonne guide

THE LOT VALLEY GOING DOWN TOWARDS AIGUILLON

As you go down the Lot, don't miss Casseneuil, a small village where life is good in the summer on the banks of the Lot. It has small medieval streets, a beautiful 12th century church and 15th century frescoes.

Also stop at Temple-sur-Lot. Apart from visiting its Latour Marliac water lily garden, Temple-sur-Lot is now a water sports centre of international stature.

Very close to Temple-sur-Lot, visit the prune museum and Dedal' Prune in Granges-sur-Lot, a friendly corn maze where you will set off after a very informative visit to the museum in search of the "lost prune".

Le Temple-sur-Lot and its Commandery

Also don't forget to take a detour to the superb viewpoint over the valley provided by the Laparade orientation table, a town overlooking the Lot valley, which is very wide and lush at this point.

Just before reaching Aiguillon where the Lot joins the Garonne, a short trip to Clairac is a must to admire the remains of a Benedictine abbey from 782. This peaceful town also inspired Montesquieu who wrote his “Persian Letters” here.

Last stop, direction Aiguillon. Visit the medieval houses of the old quarter and, of course, the majestic confluence of the Lot and the Garonne. Aiguillon is a commune, like all those in this beautiful valley, where life is peaceful and nature is generous. Stendhal even compared Aiguillon in his famous novel "The Red and the Black" to Italian Tuscany!

Confluence of the Lot and Garonne rivers at Nicole, not far from Aiguillon - photo: Didier San Martin / Adobe Stock

THE LOT VALLEY UPSTREAM FROM VILLENEUVE SUR LOT

Let's now go back up the Lot to the north of Villeneuve sur Lot. Let's make a first stop at Penne d'Agenais which majestically overlooks the valley. We will discover the city gates together. Let's wander along the steep alleys.

Penne is a major tourist spot where many shops present regional crafts between two brick or half-timbered houses.

A little further upstream, Tournon d'Agenais resembles Penne. It invites us on a journey through time with its 13th century houses, its curious moon dial at the top of a belfry, its ramparts and, again and again, a very beautiful view of the Lot valley.

A large town in the region, Fumel is one of the few remaining industrial towns in Lot-et-Garonne. Long a stake for the French and the English, Fumel saw its economy develop with the forges and foundries. Today, it invites you to a festival renowned in the region during the summer: the Bonaguil-Fumel festival or to discover the Lot river in Fumel gabarres.

Tournon d'Agenais @ Lot et Garonne guide

ZOOM ON MONFLANQUIN

Monflanquin is perhaps the most beautiful bastide in Lot-et-Garonne and one of the most beautiful villages in France. The village that is offered to you today has preserved intact its plan of a medieval bastide founded in 1256. The Place des Arcades in its center is a pure marvel. The fortified facade of the church going up towards the top of the bastide is imposing, and what can we say about the view.

In good weather, you will see the Château de Biron on the edge of Périgord! Many events are organized in the summer and retrace the history of the fortified town.

View from Monflanquin @ Lot et Garonne guide

Monflanquin @ Lot et Garonne guide

ZOOM ON BONAGUIL

A magnificent fortress on its rock, in the middle of the forest on the borders of Quercy and Périgord Noir, Bonaguil Castle is impressive!

The castle has existed since the 13th century, but Béranger de Roquefeuil, son of one of the oldest families in Languedoc, transformed it into an impregnable fortress at the end of the 15th century. Today, come and discover a remarkable example of the military architecture of the period.

We enter through the Barbican which was part of the first line of defense of the castle. Then, we visit the large tower, 35m high, then the keep, the last bastion of defense.

Armoury, monumental chimneys, tunnels, moats... This fortress is definitely worth a visit!

Bonaguil Castle @ Lot et Garonne Guide