Don't miss Figeac & its surroundings:
between beautiful villages & nature corners of the Lot and Célé Valleys
You plan to To escape to Figeac? We give you in this article. 10 essentials to guide you in the discovery of this beautiful city that is part of the Remarkable Sites and Cities of France, also labeled « City of Art and History ».
Figeac is one of those places that we loved to discover in France This is the charm, simplicity and art of living in the southwest! Combining landscape beauty and exceptional heritage, Figeac is also close to other major sites such as Cahors, Conques, Rocamadour, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie... This makes it an ideal drop point to radiate and soak up the character of the Lot and Célé Valleys !
WHAT YOU FIND IN THIS ARTICLE
→ Visiting ideas: what to do & what to see in Figeac, 10 musts.
→ Route: a discovery loop not to miss anything of the most beautiful places around Figeac, between nature and medieval villages.
→ Experiences / unusual: Two experiences to discover Figeac and its surroundings otherwise.
→ Good addresses: Bed and Breakfast in the heart of nature, charming hotels, restaurants, tastings, producers... Figeac and its surroundings.
> Our weekend in Figeac in video
> Figeac, 10 must-sees during the visit to this city of Art&d
Old city based on the banks of the Célé, Figeac is this subtle balance between modernity and tradition. A commercial and dynamic city for centuries, its historic centre and winding alleys immerse visitors in a setting straight out of the Middle Ages.
1. The viewpoint and the Church of Notre-Dame-du-Puy
See you on the heights! The Church of Notre-Dame-du-Puy dominates the historic centre of the city and is an ideal place to start the visit to Figeac. Besides being one of the two « poles » around which the medieval city developed (its construction is estimated between 1270 and 1280!), it is a nice point of view to embrace from one glance the roofs of the city... And its relief! Around the Church, the stone stairs, benches and shaded green spaces call for calm and relaxation. In addition, the parking lot of the Mirepois (just next door) is free. This is where we left our vehicle to continue the exploration on foot in the streets of Figeac!
2. Place Champollion & Les Halles
It's the meeting place for morning coffees and evening drinks! You can't miss Champollion Square when you visit Figeac. It's a little on this pretty, dynamic square that beats the heart of the city: here, bars, shops, restaurants and terraces nest in the middle of beautiful medieval facades. A few steps away, the square housing the Halles (Place Carnot) is no less full of life.
3. The Place of Scripture
It is precisely from Champollion Square that the Place des Scriptures reveals itself at the detour of a large arcade. In a beautiful medieval courtyard surrounded by a Gothic gallery, a huge black granite plate covers the ground. It is engraved with symbols, including hieroglyphs: it is the replica of the famous Rosette stone. Or the fragment that allowed François Champollion, famous Egyptian native of Figeac, to decipher hieroglyphs.
Jean-François Champollion : His name hovers over the city and we love his story! Born in Figeac in 1790, this passionate (and determined) man used to study Eastern languages from adolescence. Among the greatest mysteries of history, that of hieroglyphics fascinates him. Very quickly, he worked on the inscription of the Rosette stone and removed hundreds of documents. His knowledge of the ancient scriptures and languages acquired from a young age and his extraordinary perseverance enable him to reach the goal of his life: decipher the mystery of hieroglyphics!
4. The Champollion Museum – The Scriptures of the World
How not to chain with the World Writing Museum And his splendid "face of a thousand letters"? On this monument, each opening (window, arcade) reveals a glazing made of a copper sheet pierced with more than 1000 characters of giant writings*. When you walk through the arcades, you discover a museum that looks like a real journey through the world's writings (some are so beautiful that they come close to real drawings!). The museum is housed in the home of Champollion and gives a nice place to the work of the Egyptologist made in Figeac.
5€ entrance, 2€50 at a reduced rate. Apart from July and August, admission is free every first Wednesday of each month. Guided tour 4€ No one. Opening hours Here.
*Do not miss the end of the day, when the sunlight comes back to the facade... And light up the golden windows.
5. Saturday morning Market
We were talking about Champollion Square and Halles a little higher: this is where the market is held every Saturday morning! Every 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month, a large fair adds to it and stands simmer throughout the city: from Halles and Champollion Square to Vival Square (where the Tourist Office is located), extending even on the entire boulevard of Dr Juskiewenski. We love these producer markets where residents as visitors mix and meet to fill up good products.
In addition to the market and fair: Figeac night market on 22 July, 5 and 19 August 2021.
6. The Château du Viguier du Roy
It's actually a hotel, but not that. Located in the centre of Figeac, the Château du Viguier du Roy consists of a set of historic houses and buildings. Remarkable from afar thanks to its 14th century tower (Viguier tower)One can enjoy its extraordinary setting without necessarily sleeping there. The courtyard of the bar (free access) dates back to the 18th century and plunges its visitors into a glass in a delicate setting in the past. In the middle of the ensemble made of white stones and pretty arcade galleries, the medieval garden and its fountain bring freshness and greenery and overlook all. The restaurant of the Château is not far away, you can enjoy excellent cuisine, colorful and refined. The whole is classified as Historical Monument.
Zoom on the Viguier Tower: it is the last and main vestige of this medieval residence. This symbolic building was used to affirm the presence of royal power (the Viguier was the king's "representative") in the city. It is not open access, but the hotel staff has the key. Depending on its availability, it can accompany it for a climb above Figeac roofs.
7. Saint-Sauveur Abbey
The Abbey of Saint-Sauveur was founded in... 9th century! It is the largest church in Figeac and is at the origin of the development of the city. It once welcomed the monks and the devotions of pilgrims. Below the historic quarter and at the edge of the Célé, the alleys leading to it are pleasant and it is good to walk under its large voutes for a break full of calm, freshness... and spirituality.
8. The Salons of the Puy College and the Museum of History
We are again on the heights of the historic city center, in front of a major monument of Figeac. Here are hidden from rooms with sumptuous decors and the Museum of History, thought like a cabinet of curiosities. On our weekend in Figeac, we were unable to visit the museum but had the chance to discover the Salons: a rich apartment of Louis XIV's era. Both lounges are decorated with woodwork and painted canvases and instantly plunge the visitor into an incredible panorama of baroque paintings. Yet not especially attached to the style of the era, we found these rooms sublime, full of details, stories... And a particularly delicate beauty.
Open from 1 July to 31 August every day from 2.30pm to 6.30pm, on request the rest of the year. Guided tour on request.
9. The alleys!
We give here a lot of specific places... But one of the things to do in Figeac is to get lost in its alleys! What about our advice? Let yourself be guided by a few places that are close to your heart, but improvise the way to discover them: we loved walking through the alleys, from the largest to the narrowest, from the flatst to the steepest. The whole historic city centre of Figeac is beautiful and has a lot of charm, walking randomly through the streets that connect the flagship places (sometimes making detours!) is a treat.
10. Bonus: « discovery circuit of Figeac keys », the ultimate circuit to not miss anything!
This number 10 is not a place but a document: « the discovery circuit of the Keys of Figeac« . Designed by the Tourist Office, we find this leaflet super well done: in our opinion, we can't do better and that's why we're talking about it here! It is a thick paper booklet that forms a real map once unfolded. In 30 « Keys », it indicates a very simple to follow and super complete circuit to wrestle and discover Figeac at its own pace. Practical and pretty, we discovered this illustrated map after our random wandering of the alleys and... We realized that she was perfectly tied to all the points we loved!
The paper document is available for 30cts at the Tourist Office or in digital version for free Here. 30 keys, 26 monuments, 1h30 walk about. Visits (unusual) are also possible with lecturer guides.
> Discovery route of Figeac and its surroundings : Espagnac, Saint-Supice, Marcilhac-sur-Célé, Cajarc, Laroque-Toirac, Faycelles...
To go further: here is a route to discover the surroundings of Figeac, without ever having too much road! It can be realized over 1 or 2 days: with Figeac as « base camp » or in mode « roadtrip » (i.e. spending a night in one of the villages of your choice). After sleeping in the historic centre of Figeac we had a second night in bed and breakfast in nature and had loved the balance that these two types of experiences provided! At the rhythm of turn Célé meanders then those of the Lotsmall villages Crazy charm on this route. Between two: natural corners that it is good to discover on foot, by bike or even... In electric Mehari! More info following.
Figeac, leave.
Figeac is the starting point of this route. Now head south east along the Cele... It is said of this valley that it is wild and poetic At once! Between river banks, villages with crazy charm, limestone cliffs and moors with Mediterranean vegetation... This route will not prove otherwise!
Corn
16 minutes from Figeac, possibility of taking a first break in this village where the study. Not far from the Church, a bridge spans a stream with flowery shores. Everything comes out of a cave like magic! One can approach to observe the resurgence: the underground seems to be immense! At the foot of the cliffs and at the edge of the Célé, Corn is a Good introduction the landscapes of the Valley and the Quercy National Park.
The source of the Bual
Micro detour before the next stop: at the bridge at Sainte-Eulalie, turn left. A few hundred meters further a path that seems to come out of another world Start! At the end of it (5mn on foot) a water source incredibly pure blue nests. Water is visible at the bottom of the basin in summer but does not flow into the stream. It is necessary to fall in the time when they are high to observe it in his bed. More information about its location on this card (at the bottom of the page).
Spain-Sainte-Eulalie
Located on the GR 651 (variant of the path of St-Jacques-de-Compostelle) Espagnac is a pause full of sweetness and serenity... Feeling that is probably coming as we cross / chat with all those hikers who seem to enjoy taking a well deserved break here! The former priory has retained all its character. It now houses a stage cottage for pilgrims, but not that. Don't hesitate to go under the arch and walk around the building. You'll end up on his big flowery courtyard on the edge of the Célé. Some chairs and tables are arranged, drinks and snacks are offered to hikers... The whole is at the first lodges to appreciate the atypical tower that the priory kept.
The English Castle and its cliff path
Leaving Espagnac, Open your eyes... In the cliffs lies the Castle of the English. The term « English castle » means the fortifications on cliffs Lot and Cele valleys. The oldest buildings could date from the 11th or 12th century. They were the property of lords to establish their power and served as a cut off to the population in case of attack.
Walk: from Brengues, departure of the « trail of cliffs » which leads to the fortified gate of the cliff and to the foot of the castle. 2h, 5km, easy level. More practical information and a route of the right route Here.
Saint Sulpice
At the finish in Saint-Sulpice, take on the right the road that begins to climb. After serious turns in « Z » and barely a few minutes' drive, the height taken is impressive and view of the breathtaking valley Hey! A parking lot is located after the turns. It is the perfect point of view to observe the peculiarity of Saint Sulpice: built against (and in!) the cliffs, its semi-troglodytes houses!
Marcilhac-sur-Célé
A little over thirty minutes from Figeac, Marcilhac-sur-Célé is our village love. Here too, we breathe charm and tranquility: white stone buildings, beautiful flowered alleys... We love its place in the center of the village: treed and just by the river, it is a Great place to land, picnic... Or watch the locals play petanque (and challenge them?)!
Then there is the site of abbey and Romanesque ruins Here the narrow streets open and plunge us into austere beauty, another time! Finally, we like it for its many adventure possibilities: embarking on a canoeing for let yourself slide along the Cele ; go to electric mountain bike on the small yaw road that rises above the village... It's a wonderful doorway on beautiful little trails crisscrossing the limestone plateaus. Between Mediterranean vegetation, small paths lined with stone walls... And pretty cazelles, those old shepherd shelters.
Market in Marcilhac-sur-Célé: Tuesday from 5pm to 8pm in July and August.
A night immersed in nature... To Upper Metairie.
We're going to love each other? Come on, we're gonna love each other! Not far from Marcilhac-sur-Célé, we discovered the guest rooms of the Métairie Haute... And we loved it! The place is perfect if you have want to take a break in these discoveries and spend a night away from everything. More is said in the section just after: The right addresses > Accommodation.
Cajarc
From Marcilhac-sur-Célé, we descend the limestone reliefs to reach Cajarc: here, It's a new valley. We left the banks of the Cele for those of the Lot! From now on, the road goes up to Figeac by the 662: it is said that the « Route 66 » Lot! Cajarc is a beautiful medieval city, active and full of secrets. We enjoyed walking around, from the central square to its port on Lot. Many houses, alleys or small squares are real paintings... And it's also a greedy city! Rdv in our section good addresses. As there are too many things to say about Cajarc, the best thing still is that you discover everything by Here.
Market in Cajarc every Saturday afternoon + fair every 2nd and 4th Wednesday morning in July and August.
Laroque-Toirac
The reason why we recommend a stop at Laroque-Toirac will jump your eyes as soon as you arrive... Hanging on his cliff, the castle of Laroque-Toirac is remarkable. It is open for the visit from July to September, but only the steep streets of the village offer a super lookout on the valley.
Faycelles
Another one of our favorites... And another super gazebo on the valley Hey! From Laroque-Toirac, the road winds and slowly reaches Faycelles. If we were to sum it up in a single word, it looks like... Pittoresque ? « Original arrangement, worthy to be painted, seductive appearance, which one notices, which has relief, color... » Yes, that word fits him well! As cut off from the rest, life seems very sweet on this between the Lot and Célé valley Hey! We enjoyed discovering it so much in the daytime that we came back to it at sunset (Faycelles is only 10 minutes from Figeac). The ambient calm was indescribable. We met with happy and proud residents to talk about « their » village.
Figeac, end of the loop.
This is the end of this loop to the discovery of Figeac and its surroundings. We took a lot of fun on this two-day route. To prolong the pleasure, this discovery loop can even be extended: if it interests you, the circuit is to be discovered Here.
> Experiences to discover Figeac and its surroundings otherwise
There are also ways a little more unusual Explore this corner of the Lot: the electric mountain bike and the E-Mehari!
I discover Figeac and its surroundings in E-Mehari :
The banks of rivers are quiet, the villages also, the small roads cross plains, forests, valleys where birds sing... And we take full advantage of all these atmospheres, hair in the wind (or not!) thanks to the silence and autonomy of the E-Mehari. It's Loc&Roll Cajarc offers to rent this latest electric version of Citroën Mehari, small collector cars. In addition to the fact that the owners are super friendly, we enjoyed the driving: we take pleasure in walking the small roads while soaking up the decor even better.
Various circuits are offered (roadbooks are available with the vehicle) and the rental time adapts to the demand.
I discover Figeac and its surroundings by electric mountain bike :
It is the perfect mix to combine discovery comfort and proximity with nature! The mountain bike passes everywhere, without noise, and thanks to the electric assistance, you climb the steepest slopes almost without effort. It offers the opportunity to visit the small alleys of villages such as limestone or large moors of the plateau du Célé. It's really one of our favorite ways of discovering.
We rented ours at Lot & Bike To Cajarc.
> The right addresses for Figeac
Accommodation: guest rooms in the heart of nature or charming hotel
- Mercure Hotel The Viguier of the Roy In Figeac: Our 10 must-sees of Figeac have already led us to talk about him. The Viguier du Roy is a medieval palace in the heart of the historic centre of Figeac. If the tariff may not be available to all budgets (from 110€ for a room) its location, its exceptional setting, the quality of service and the kindness of the staff make it THE right address to enjoy and enjoy an ideal drop point in Figeac. The Viguier du Roy envelops us as soon as the sweet atmosphere in this city of Art and History arrives.
- ♥ Chambers Upper Metairie Marcilhac-sur-Célé: nestled on the top of a hill, surrounded by a forest that the owners take care to leave wild... Karel and Juliette designed these guest rooms in accordance with their own way of life and values: in harmony with the nature surrounding them. In the heart of the huge estate, the two guest rooms are located in a small renovated independent barn. Quiet bubble effect guarantees. No more is said... But the place also includes a yoga room and a plant bar, always maintained by both owners.
- Bed and breakfast of Conquans In Figeac: Here's another charming address in Figeac! Still in the historic centre, Ericia & Arthur, the owners, wanted to honour the original beauty and history of this huge 14th century residence: warm rooms, authentic parquet floors, wooden shutters... From the threshold, you feel like you're entering a castle, perfect for instantly getting into the mood! Ericia and Arthur are adorable.
Restaurant: the good tables around which to gather
- The Garden on the roof In Figeac: We enjoyed taking a lunch break on this shaded terrace overlooking the streets of Figeac. The Garden On the roof bears his name very well! You can eat local cuisine or Thai accents, all in the middle of a decor full of greenery and colors. The prices are also very correct.
- The Dinée du Viguier In Figeac: This is the restaurant of the Viguier du Roy. If you want to enjoy yourself with a tasty, refined, colourful cuisine, making the part of the good products here, go without hesitation! We loved the kindness of the team, of Anthony, the chef, and the festival of flavors that we had during the whole meal!
- ♥ At Moulino in Cajarc: We really needed a break and we were hungry, or this place really is a good address ?? Both! We fell in love with this bistro-style restaurant and wine bar that has a great value for money! The ambiance is relaxed, the team joyous, the back yard shady resourcing... And cooking, a treat. We all had different dishes and we all enjoyed it. We already know that we will come back to enjoy this local address.
- ♥ Auberge Beauville in Espedaillac: A different style, but impossible to choose between these two favourites. The Beauville hostel in Espedaillac is for us one of the best addresses in the area, these restaurants as we like. Be careful here, no chichis! As its name suggests, we are in a hostel and, according to the family tradition that has persisted for more than a century, we revive the atmosphere and the cuisine of the past. Simple dishes, 100% terroir, delicious and generous... All in a beautiful building, what more can you ask for? We come here to take time, please and disconnect, without hurting his wallet.
- Pastry Lagarde in Cajarc: We didn't have time to taste it, but everyone agrees that Lagarde Pastry is the right place for gourmets! It seems that one of the best pastis of the region or geodelecs is tasted here: exotic fruits, caramelized nuts or saffron, small "rockers" chocolate style that are inspired by the geology of the Causses du Quercy.
Producer: tastings and local products... Right on the farm!
- The Fromagerie du Val Riant Sabadel-Latrouquière. Located in the heart of the Segala Lotois, this farm produces farm cheeses with raw milk. Made in a traditional and artisanal way, it was a pleasure to find in the Vermande family the taste of « True » cheese. Tomme du Clocher, Tomme Grise, Carré du Val Riant, Bleu, le Louché... There's something for every taste. At the heart of this town of 80 inhabitants, Corinne is proud to say that its 18 Holstein cows are quietly grazing on a land of 50 hectares and are « Weed reared, nothing more! ». And she's right! Cheese « 100% nature » It's just better. Finally, here the comfort of the beast comes first and this is also a good producer address!
Gift for the end? Here is the ultimate weapon to discover Figeac and its surroundings:
We're gonna be honest, we're gonna talk to you here about a guide Manufactured byTourist Office of the Grand Figeac while in normal time we tend to go to mode ourselves « Internet searches » and ignore this kind of brochure! Yet, Those who know a destination best are those who live there! And it's also the people who developed this guide, so why go away?
« The Mag » is free, downloadable here, or available in the Tourist Office. The best is probably the request online to receive the paper version by post, and Walk quietly at home before departure. Ideal to spot the places/experiences you want most, and it's Even though much more fun than searching the Internet! The guide is pleasant to read and contains absolutely all the information you might want to know about this destination: must-sees, history, markets, parties, ideas for visits, meetings, good addresses, route "Figeac in 48 hours", example of guided tours...
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This way, other ideas for getaways France or other roadtrips in the heart of exceptional villages.
[…] le site de l’office du tourisme du Lot, qui est très bien fait. Et sur les conseils d’Entre2poles, j’ai contacté l’office du tourisme du Grand Figeac, ils sont adorables et très […]
J’ai trainé mes guettes dans le coin et encadré des rando Kayak et c’est vrai que Marcilhac-sur-Célé c’est ma préférée aussi. Il y a un coté encaissé très typique. En hivers je sais pas comment ca doit être. Merci pour cet article. Je vais y retourner.
Bravo 👍 magnifique article 👍
Merci beaucoup Michel !
Très bien fait. On a envie d en savoir plus
Merci beaucoup Michel !