The best road cycling routes around Le Boulvé

The medieval Tower of Luzech: This 24-meter-high, elongated keep dominates the medieval castrum. Built by the Bishop of Cahors, Guillaume de Cardaillac, in the 13th century, the building is undergoing a major restoration program, supported by the Fondation du patrimoine, to secure its structure and allow its reopening to the public.

Albas, nicknamed « Albas la Jolie », is a magnificent medieval fortified village nestled in the heart of the Lot valley, in the Occitanie region. Perched on a rocky spur about 20 kilometers downstream from Cahors, the village proudly overlooks the meanders of the Lot river and the famous Cahors vineyard.

Albas, nicknamed « Albas la Jolie », is a magnificent medieval fortified village nestled in the heart of the Lot valley, in the Occitanie region. Perched on a rocky spur about 20 kilometers downstream from Cahors, the village proudly overlooks the meanders of the Lot river and the famous Cahors vineyard.

The name of the village comes from the Celtic word Puech (meaning high place) and from Guillaume de Cardaillac, count-bishop of Cahors, who took possession of the fort in 1228 during the Albigensian Crusade. The city became a highly strategic point for controlling river trade on the Lot, where wine and local goods were transported on barges.

The name of the village comes from the Celtic word Puech (meaning high place) and from Guillaume de Cardaillac, count-bishop of Cahors, who took possession of the fort in 1228 during the Albigensian Crusade. The city became a highly strategic point for controlling river trade on the Lot, where local wine and goods were transported on barges.

Former pilgrimage church integrated into a Benedictine priory founded at the end of the 11th century under the authority of the abbey of Aurillac, it is mainly distinguished by the remarkable architecture of its crypt and choir. It is one of the few churches in the region to have a semi-subterranean crypt. Intended to house relics, its presence causes a visible elevation of the transept and choir. Mainly built in the 12th century, the church consists of a main nave flanked by two aisles and a transept topped by a dome on pendentives. The large interior arcades rest on columns adorned with typical Romanesque sculptures depicting mermaids, back-to-back birds, or animals with human heads. The original choir was modified or rebuilt between the 14th and 16th centuries to become larger. On the outside, its facades display a military austerity reminiscent of the defensive roles it played during regional conflicts.

The commune benefits from a natural setting conducive to outdoor activities, particularly thanks to the Voie Verte along the Lot. Local economy: The activity is marked by the cultivation of cereals, plum growing (production of the famous Agen prune) and important nurseries.

The architecture of Villeneuve-sur-Lot tells its story as a 13th-century river bastide, built for trade and defense. Its geometric checkerboard plan is organized around a central hub and opens onto the river. The checkerboard plan: Straight streets, typical of medieval bastides. Place Lafayette: Central square bordered by covered arcades (the cornières). The watchtowers: Fortified gates of Paris and Pujols in brick and stone. The Romanesque-Byzantine style: Used for the Sainte-Catherine church with its 55-meter high bell tower. The half-timbered facades: Medieval houses with timber framing and overhangs. The Pont des Cieutat: 13th-century structure with asymmetrical stone arches.