Cidade Turismo
France

Before you go

Your trip to Cahors.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Cahors – Occitânia Destination Le Puy, Conques and the Vale do Lot about 115 km from Toulouse

How to get there

  • Aéroport Toulouse-Blagnac (TLS) Blagnac · 115 km
  • Aéroport Brive-Vallée de la Dordogne (BVE) Nespouls · 90 km
  • Gare de Cahors 1 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

Check before booking. Cahors station is on the rail line between Paris and Toulouse; from Toulouse the journey usually takes just over an hour. By car it's about 115 km from Toulouse. The station is around 1 km from the centre. The nearest airports are Toulouse and Brive.

How many days

One day covers the Pont Valentré, the cathedral, the medieval centre and Mont Saint-Cyr. With two or three days you can visit Saint-Cirq-Lapopie and the Pech Merle cave and explore the vineyards of the Lot valley.

When to go

From May to October the weather is usually good for walking and visiting the Lot valley. July and August are hot and busier. The harvest takes place in September and October. The Pech Merle cave is open from February to early November, with pauses: check the dates.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

Not for the town, which is explored on foot. For Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, Pech Merle and the vineyards, a car helps a lot; there are seasonal buses to Saint-Cirq-Lapopie with few services, and organized tours.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Cahors
  1. Morning
    Pont Valentré

    Start at the Pont Valentré, cross it on foot and view the bridge from the banks of the Lot, with its three towers.

  2. Afternoon
    Cathedral and medieval centre

    Visit the cathedral of Saint-Étienne and the cloister. Then climb through the medieval centre to the tower of Jean XXII and the Barbican, passing some hidden gardens.

  3. Late afternoon
    Mont Saint-Cyr

    Climb to the viewpoint of Mont Saint-Cyr to see the town within the bend of the river.

  4. Evening
    Dinner with Cahors wine

    Dine in the centre and try Cahors wine, dark red, with Quercy cuisine.

3 days in Cahors

Day 1

  1. Morning
    Pont Valentré and cathedral

    Bridge, cathedral and cloister.

  2. Afternoon
    Medieval centre

    Towers, hidden gardens and old streets.

  3. Late afternoon
    Mont Saint-Cyr

    Viewpoint over the bend of the Lot.

  4. Evening
    Dinner

    Quercy cuisine and Cahors wine.

Day 2

  1. Morning
    Pech Merle Cave

    Go to the Pech Merle cave, about 32 km away, with prehistoric paintings. Book ahead.

  2. Afternoon
    Saint-Cirq-Lapopie

    Head to Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, the village on the cliff above the Lot, for lunch and a walk.

  3. Late afternoon
    Vale do Lot

    Return via the Vale do Lot, with stops at the roadside viewpoints.

  4. Evening
    Return to Cahors

    Dinner in Cahors.

Day 3

  1. Morning
    Vineyards of Cahors

    Visit a winery in the Vale do Lot, west of town. Check tours in advance.

  2. Afternoon
    Banks of the Lot

    Walk along the riverbanks in Cahors or take a boat trip in season.

  3. Late afternoon
    Illuminated bridge

    Return to Pont Valentré to see it at the end of the day.

  4. Evening
    Last night

    Dinner in the old town.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

What is Cahors wine?

A dark red wine, with a protected designation of origin since 1971, made mainly from the côt grape — the same Malbec as in Argentina — in the Vale do Lot and on the plateaus of Quercy.

Can you get from Cahors to Saint-Cirq-Lapopie without a car?

In season there are buses with limited schedules and organized tours. Off season, a car or taxi is the most practical option.

Is Cahors on the Camino de Santiago?

Yes, on the Le Puy route, which enters the town along the bend of the Lot and leaves via Pont Valentré.

How long to stay in Cahors?

One day for the town; two or three to include Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, Pech Merle and the vineyards.

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