In this article, I invite you to set off and discover part of the Lot department in Occitanie, which takes its name from the river of the same name, a tributary of the Garonne. We came to discover Cahors and the Lot Valley with my favorite photographer at the end of September 2023. This region is home to the famous Cahors vineyard, with its iconic grape variety, Malbec, known as Auxerrois in the 16th century—the first time it was mentioned in a treatise on vines and wine. This vineyard is a blend of river and limestone, carrying an ancient history and tradition that we set out to explore over these few days.
The Lot department is a nature-focused destination (with 70% of the department covered in woods and forests) that draws its essence and landscapes from its limestone plateaus, carved by the Lot valleys. It is also a land of delicacies with wonderful local products (duck foie gras, PGI Quercy lamb, truffles, walnuts, saffron, AOP Rocamadour cheese, Quercy melon…) and very good gastronomic spots. The Via Podiensis, which I already mentioned in my article on Le Puy-en-Velay and which is one of the paths to Santiago de Compostela, also crosses through Cahors and the Lot Valley.
Practical Information
- Getting there by train from Paris: from Austerlitz station (Intercités train direct or with a change in Brive la Gaillard – duration: about 5h30)
Lot Tourisme
Table of Contents
Visiting the city of Cahors
Cahors is the prefecture of the Lot department, and that is where we arrived by train from Paris. The historic city is nestled in a loop of the Lot River, and its medieval past is still very present in its old town center, even though the city is actually rich in over 2,000 years of history. It has given its name to the region’s vineyard since the 18th century because it is surrounded by vines and served as the gathering point and commercial hub for the entire vineyard at that time. It also saw the birth of the poet Clément Marot and the republican Léon Gambetta, an important figure in Cahors. I highly recommend that you first get lost in the charming narrow streets of the medieval quarter, which is shaped like an almond and which locals sometimes call the “Medieval Almond.”
Cahors Tourist Office – Lot Valley
Place François -Mitterrand 46000 Cahors
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What to see and do in Cahors?
Below, as usual, I offer a small selection of things to do and see if you are coming for a stay in Cahors or the region.
Also see: the Arc de Diane; the Tour Jean XXII; the monumental marble clock; the old streets of Cahors; the Barbican.
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Go see the Valentré Bridge
It is impossible to visit Cahors without seeing this iconic monument of the city, with its 8 arches and 172 meters in length. A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1998, this fortified bridge built in the 14th century is considered one of the most beautiful medieval bridges in France, even though we know it was heavily restored by a student of Viollet le Duc in the 19th century. It was built at the request of powerful merchants, notables, and bourgeois to defy the bishops of Cahors (the only ones allowed to build bridges at the time, in order to collect the taxes that went with them), at a place called “Valandre,” west of the Cahors meander. As the construction project lasted 70 years, a legend says that the bridge’s architect made a pact with the devil to finish the work by promising his soul, but finally refused, so the bridge was never finished. Until the 19th century, when the final stone was laid with a sculpted representation of the devil on it (can you find it, hidden somewhere on the bridge?!).
Valentré Bridge
46000 Cahors
Free and open access
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Where to find a beautiful viewpoint of the city?
If you have a vehicle, I recommend two spots accessible by car where you can get a breathtaking view of the city of Cahors:
- Mount Saint-Cyr Viewpoint: this sensitive natural area is mainly known for the exceptional view it offers over the city of Cahors and the meander of the Lot.
- La Croix Magne: another spot, and one where you have a particularly beautiful view of the Valentré Bridge that I mentioned just before.
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Discover the Secret Gardens of Cahors
In Cahors, flowering and gardens are a true art of living, another way to discover and experience the city. The creativity of the city’s gardeners gave birth in 2002 to a unique initiative: the Secret Gardens of Cahors (awarded the “Remarkable Garden” label). 25 secret gardens are spread throughout the city. Each has its own size, charm, and theme, and they all tell a little bit of the history of Cahors. Finally, the city’s gardens are maintained according to an eco-responsible gardener charter with the goal of more sustainable practices.
To see in the city of Cahors: the Moorish garden, the cathedral cloister, the Monks’ Court, the Ferryman’s garden…
The Secret Gardens of Cahors
The tip: free brochure with the route of the secret gardens can be picked up at the tourist office, and the route is also marked with studs adorned with acanthus leaves.
Free and open access during garden opening hours
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Visit the Saint Étienne Cathedral
Don’t hesitate to take a tour of the Saint-Étienne Cathedral, which is in the Roman Catholic style. Built starting from the 12th century, it is one of the largest French buildings with domes on pendentives and mixes Romanesque and Gothic elements. And don’t miss, on one of the sides towards the choir, heading to the cloister of the building, which has a lot of charm.
Saint Étienne Cathedral
17 Place Jean Jacques Chapou, 46000 Cahors
Free and open access during building opening hours
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Visit the Henri Martin Museum
This museum, located in a former episcopal complex, reopened its doors in May 2022 after being closed for 6 years. Created in 1833, the Henri-Martin Museum gathers collections (nearly 11,000 objects) acquired by the city of Cahors and deposits sent by the State mainly in the 19th century. They span from the Neolithic period to the 21st century, including important archaeological pieces, numerous paintings by Quercy artists, an Oceanian collection with a national treasure (a very rare statuette of the god Rongo), and even a unique collection surrounding the figure of Léon Gambetta, a native of the city.
The museum also owns the most important public collection of the post-impressionist artist Henri Martin (1860-1943), a native of Toulouse, who donated several of his paintings in 1842. Indeed, he had settled in the region and bought two residences where he spent several months of the year. The new design of the spaces allows his large-format works to be displayed in optimal conditions in a dedicated room: *The Haymaking* and the *Monument to the Dead*. In fact, Henri Martin was a state painter and made a good living from public commissions (he was very close to the mayor of Cahors at the time).
The museum also presents temporary exhibitions, and during our visit, we were able to discover “The Tenure of Eve” (from June 24, 2023, to January 7, 2024), which showcased the work of Paula Anke and Karen LaMonte. After your museum visit, don’t miss out, if the weather permits, on taking a stroll in the garden located at the back of the building.
Henri Martin Cahors Museum
792, rue Émile Zola 46000 Cahors
open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Wednesday to Sunday
Rates: 8 € / 5 € reduced / free for under 18s and for everyone on the 1st Sunday of the month
The tip: “last hour” rate at 2 € from 5 p.m.
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Get an introduction to the Cahors vineyard at the Malbec Lounge
This place is a space for promoting and tasting Cahors wines, managed by the Cahors Wine Interprofessional Union. It allows you to acquire the keys to understanding the Cahors vineyard and get the urge to go meet passionate winemakers. It offers more than 200 references of Cahors wines from 70 different estates, as it is also a tasting venue. You will find all the information on the appellation there, as well as information to prepare your excursions in the vineyard.
It was an opportunity for us to learn more about the Cahors appellation. The AOC Cahors vineyard is established over 60 km along the Lot River, halfway between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean on the first foothills of the Massif Central, and it also embraces the eponymous city. The specifications of the AOC Cahors, which have existed since 1971, require having at least 70% of the appellation’s signature grape variety, Malbec, in its wines, and one can then make a blend with Tannat and/or Merlot or work with Malbec as a single varietal to produce one color only: red wine.
This prestigious grape variety is native to the region, and it was also exported in the 19th century to Argentina and Chile, where it developed very well. Because of this, today the AOC Cahors represents only 10% of the world production of Malbec, while Argentina represents 77% with about 45,000 hectares planted. The production terroir of this vineyard takes place on the limestone plateaus and hillsides of the Quercy limestone plateaus and on alluvial terraces positioned in the meanders of the Lot Valley. In total, about 3,500 hectares of vines are operated by 200 winemakers, and there is only one cooperative cellar, but it represents 20% of the appellation. Cahors wines do not have a typical bottle like other regions, but a specific glass, which was created with the help of master glassmakers.
Events are also organized on site: aperitifs, wine tastings (including blind tastings), evenings, wine-making courses, afterwork events, conferences, advice on making pairings with local dishes, meat, and spicy dishes…
Cahors wine prices: entry-level 10€ / between 10€ and 20€ mid-range / between 20€ and 40€ high-end
Cahors Malbec Lounge / Wine tourism space
Villa Cahors Malbec / Place François Mitterrand 46000 Cahors
Tasting formula rates (duration 30 min / 3 glasses of wine of 4cl): l’Epicurien 6 € / l’Explorateur 10 € / l’Alchimiste 10 € / le Collectionneur 16 €
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My favorite addresses in Cahors
As usual, you will find below my selection of good addresses in Cahors (two accommodations and several restaurants) that we had the opportunity to test during our stay with my favorite photographer. These addresses often offer the chance to discover local products and some regional specialties to taste if you come to the Lot. Furthermore, if you want to bring back local products, the markets are held on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.
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Where to buy good local products? At the Halles of Cahors
You will find local delicacies and flavors from around the world there. It is the perfect place to do your gourmet shopping and bring back some iconic local products from Quercy. This covered market is located in the heart of the city in the old grain hall of Cahors, which was erected in 1865 by the architect Pinochet and inaugurated by the mayor of the time, Achille Bessières.
Halles of Cahors
50-85 Place Saint-Maurice, 46000 Cahors
Open Tuesday to Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. / Sunday morning from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
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Where to have a gourmet dinner in Cahors? Restaurant l’Ô à la Bouche
The chef Jean François Dive offers in his restaurant (Bib Gourmand 2021) an inventive cuisine, concocted exclusively with fresh and seasonal products, carefully selected from local suppliers and producers, and well highlighted by traditional compositions but with a touch of originality. The address also has a lovely terrace in front of the establishment on which we were able to dine, even at the end of September.
We tasted: marbled foie gras and duck confit with corn and fermented strawberry jelly; zucchini flower stuffed with cuttlefish with chanterelle mushroom barigoule and tomatoes; beef sirloin with Colonatta bacon, potato pancake, and a variation of onions; line-caught pollock with eggplant caponata and a chickpea mousseline; for dessert, fresh figs, creamy vanilla ice cream with gingerbread; raspberries and sorbet with “Tulakalum grands crus” chocolate and a tarragon cream.
L’Ô à la Bouche
56 allées Fénelon 46000 Cahors
Price: wine by the glass between 5 € and 8 € / “Saveurs” menu at 30 € / “Gourmand” menu at 48 € / “Dégustation” menu at 65 €
The tip: lunch menu (excluding Saturdays and public holidays) at 23.50 € for starter + main + coffee or main + dessert + coffee, or 30 € for starter + main + dessert + coffee to choose from the “Saveurs” menu
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Where to stay in the heart of Cahors? The Hôtel le Coin des Halles
Located right in the city center of Cahors, this 2-star hotel, which also acts as a restaurant, is nestled in the heart of the old town, with a view of the halls and the market. It also has a small sunny terrace for sunny days where locals love to hang out all day. Our small room (number 5) overlooked a side street on the side of the hotel, which brought a bit of freshness even though the room was not air-conditioned and it was about 30° during the day. It was also particularly quiet, and we slept well there.
Hôtel Coin des Halles
30 place Saint-Maurice 46000 Cahors
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Where to stay and eat next to the Cahors train station? Hotel Terminus and Bistro 1911
This family-run hotel, established for over 100 years in the city center of Cahors, is housed in a magnificent local mansion. It belongs to the Marre family, who welcome their guests with the greatest care. The main advantage of this accommodation is being located just a few minutes’ walk from the SNCF train station, which is particularly practical if you are coming to Cahors by train. The decor of the hotel is a bit old-fashioned and would deserve a refresh, but it does the trick for a one-night stop in the city.
During our stay at the Hotel Terminus, we also dined in the evening at the hotel restaurant in a retro setting. The Bistro 1911 offers a traditional and creative menu depending on the season and the market. Good products, well-sourced from local producers and cooked for their flavors. The address also offers a beautiful wine list, with a selection of wine by the glass, as one does not go without the other.
Hôtel Terminus / Bistro 1911
5 Avenue Charles de Freycinet, 46000 Cahors
Room rates: double room between 65 € and 160 € depending on the season
Bistro 1911 price: starter + main or main + dessert menu at 24 € / starter + main + dessert menu at 31 €
What to do in the Lot Valley around Cahors?
We set off by car to discover the AOP zone of Cahors wines west of Cahors, along the Lot Valley, where the river is adorned with the appellation’s vineyards. It was also the opportunity to discover some beautiful villages that embody the spirit of the Lot, by taking a route along the river and the vineyard.
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The village of Douelle
This village is located along the banks of the Lot. At the Douelle port, you can discover the fresco by Chamizo with its flashy colors, which is dedicated to the vineyard and the winemakers. This work was created in 1992 by the painter Didier Chamizo, a local lad. It is the largest contemporary art mural in Europe with its 800 m2. The concrete wall, 120 meters long and 6 meters high, unfolds like a film. The painting tells the story of Cahors wines from Adam and Eve to the present day, according to the artist’s vision. The reading table positioned on the other side of the Lot will help you decipher this contemporary, colorful, surprising, and unique work.
We also took advantage of our stop in Douelle to take a small 4.5 km hike: the Douelle viewpoint circuit, which starts at the Place de l’Ormeau in Douelle (more info on this hike below).
The Douelle viewpoint circuit
Duration: 1h45
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The village of Luzech
The town is established inside a particularly tight meander of the Lot. Impossible to miss the Impernal hill which dominates the Saint Projet rock, where an important Gallo-Roman site is found and where, in the Middle Ages, a first fortification with a castrum was built. On the way, don’t hesitate to go into the middle of the vines where small vine houses punctuate the landscape here and there. This will be the opportunity to take pretty photos. In the distance, a more imposing monument appears; it is Notre Dame de l’île, a place of pilgrimage, it seems, where people come to venerate a Virgin who is a protector of sailors, winemakers, and pilgrims.
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The village of Albas
In the series of perched villages, Albas is located on the left bank of the Lot and watches over both the Lot River and the vineyard located just on the other side of the suspension bridge from its rocky outcrop. The town was once a port, and the history of wine and boating are closely linked. Under English rule, the great Cahors wines left the port of Albas to reach the city of Bordeaux by boat. While walking through its narrow streets, you can discover the remains of the episcopal castle (current town hall). I also recommend going as far as the Tuscan garden (a 450m2 space that gathers several species inspired by a trip to Italy), set out below the town hall in 2018, which offers a very beautiful panorama over the Lot (access every day from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.).
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The village of Prayssac
The Prayssac market was voted one of the favorite markets of the French people in 2019. Well known by locals for its atmosphere and charm, this Friday morning must-see is an institution in the Lot Valley. No less than a hundred greengrocers, butchers, cheesemongers, winemakers, or even pastry chefs deploy colorful stalls and parasols every Friday. The warm atmosphere that reigns there often puts it in the “favorite market” category for some shoppers! We did some gourmet shopping there (canned cassoulet from the Ferme de Siffray – canned cassoulet with confit duck 2 servings 12.40 €).
Prayssac market
Every Friday morning
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Visit Puy-l’Eveque
This medieval city in the Lot Valley, located in the heart of the vineyard of Cahors, is built on a rocky promontory that overlooks the river. Furthermore, “Puy” means “the Mount.” Perched above the Lot, the town is formed by a maze of narrow streets and staircases lined with beautiful golden stone houses that go down to the quay, where river barges bound for Bordeaux once docked, because the city was a commercial port, and its winemaking history is linked to river navigation. Do not miss passing in front of the Lychairie castle with its beautiful Gothic windows and whose construction dates back to the 13th century, but also in front of the Main Tower of Quercy. You will also discover very beautiful hanging gardens (which have existed since the 2010s) and which offer a space for strolling in the middle of the city.
My tip for getting a beautiful view of the city: go to the left bank of the Lot to have a magnificent panorama over Puy-l’Evêque and to see the ochre of the medieval facades reflecting in the waters of the Lot.
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Where to have lunch in Puy-l’Évêque? Restaurant Les Dodus en ville
This small restaurant is as good as a big one! You will find refined, high-quality cuisine prepared only with local products. On the menu, there is even a page with the description of all the producers from whom the restaurant sources its supplies. On the plates, it’s inventive, tasty, surprising, and to top it all off, the welcome is very warm. A moment of gastronomic grace in this restaurant run by a couple of young enthusiasts.
We ate: sweet potato croquettes with almonds and herbs; chicken fillet and pesto with spelt and vegetables; pistachio cream puffs; wine by the glass with a lovely selection of local wines, obviously (between 4 € and 7 €).
Les Dodus en ville
11 Rue Ernest Marcouly, 46700 Puy-l’Évêque
Price: daily menu (unique menu) with starter + main + dessert 19 € / starter + main or main + dessert 16 € / the 5-course Dodus menu (served for the whole table) at 45 €
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Discover the Vinoltis space
This interpretation space for the Cahors vineyard is divided into 3 scenographic areas intended to help you discover the Cahors vineyard in a fun and in-depth way. You can also enjoy a self-guided tasting (with an automatic dispenser; do not hesitate to ask for tokens at the reception because it’s free!) or with winemakers (in July and August), and that is also totally free! It is also a tourist information place to set off to discover the villages of the valley.
The tip: don’t miss out on the panoramic terrace of the place with a magnificent view of Puy-L’Evêque and the Lot Valley (accessible for free during the opening hours of the place).
Vinoltis / Puy-l’Évêque Tourist Office
Place du Rampeau 46700 Puy-l’Evêque
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Where to eat in Caillac? restaurant le Vinois
This address, taken over in 2021 by a couple of enthusiasts, offers a small boutique hotel with 7 rooms, a loft that can be rented for 140 m2 installed in the old village dance hall, and a restaurant. On the plates, you find generous recipes, full of freshness and authenticity that evolve with the seasons. Flavors, gourmet quality, and unique know-how that intertwine to make you travel here and elsewhere. Don’t miss the waiter’s little magic trick at the end of the meal, which will undoubtedly pique your curiosity!
Le Vinois : hotel, restaurant and caterer
Place de la Croix, 46140 Caillac
Price: Balade menu 35 € with starter + main + dessert / Odyssée menu 45 € with starter + main + dessert / vegetarian menu 32 € / wine by the glass between 5 € and 6.50 €
The tip: inspiration of the moment menu with starter + main + dessert for 25 € or starter + main or main + dessert for 19.90 €
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Where to have a romantic dinner in Vire-Sur-Lot? Restaurant le Caillau
This beautiful address located about 4 minutes from Puy L’Évêque is both a guesthouse, a pottery workshop, and the owners, Chas and Caroline Sharp, have created a “fusion cuisine” restaurant for discerning gourmets. They serve fine dishes based on fresh, seasonal products, sourced from local producers and inspired by a blend of English, French, Italian, and even Asian cuisine. Not to mention homemade cakes and coffee roasted in the Lot. The restaurant also sources herbs and vegetables from its kitchen garden, which we find on the plates. Finally, the place has a magnificent terrace in a charming setting, ideal for a romantic evening in an enchanting spot! And then, obviously, there is also a very beautiful selection of local wines.
To taste: mushroom velouté with parmesan, salsify chips (11.50 €); scallops pan-seared with apples caramelized in Cognac (13.50 €); roasted lamb fillet, seared sucrine, cauliflower puree with garlic (22 €); sea bream fillet with plancha, crispy rice pancake, black radish and white cabbage coleslaw (21 €); tangerine iced soufflé (10.50 €).
Le Caillau
46700 Vire sur Lot
Restaurant price: starters between 10 € and 14.50 € / mains between 16.50 € and 26 € / dessert between 3.50 € and 11.50 € / wine by the glass between 4.50 € and 8.50 €
The tip: daily menu with starter + main + dessert 25 €
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A charming bed and breakfast in the Lot Valley? Maison Reces
Maison Reces is a peaceful parenthesis. This former typical Quercy building from 1827, with its bolet, chai, and bread oven, offers a magnificent view of the surrounding vines and truffle fields. We spent a wonderful night in this B&B in the heart of the vineyard, which has been open since 2020. In the rooms, the decor is very inspiring, with every detail contributing to the atmosphere of the place. You feel good there, simply. On site, there is also a Finnish sauna installed in the small building of the old bread oven; unfortunately, we didn’t have time to enjoy it. I just had time for a quick dip in the pool, which was right in front of our suite, Le Bois Céladon.
Maison Reces
506 route de Reces, 46700 Floressas
Rates: overnight stay from 154 € per room (with breakfast included)
Wine tourism and activities around the Cahors vineyard
The Cahors winemakers currently offer many ways to discover the vineyard, and we actually tested some of them! The offer proposed by the winemakers is very varied: workshops, original or thematic tastings, accommodations, bars or even restaurants installed in the estates, bike rides in the vines…
The tip: you can find the entire wine tourism offer of the vineyard in a booklet “Vignobles de Cahors en vallée du Lot” with a map that lists the AOP appellation estates (free and available in the tourist information offices of the region).
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Discovery of Château de Haute-Serre in Cieurac
Witness to a true epic of several centuries, the Château de Haute-Serre rises 300 meters above sea level on the historic hillsides of the Quercy limestone plateau in the Cahors vineyard. It is not located on the traditional wine route. A high place of biodiversity, the Haute-Serre terroir gives birth to atypical, classy wines, with a beautiful length on the palate and dressed in silky, perfectly chiseled tannins because we are here on a 100% clay-limestone terroir, of a rather Burgundian type. This terroir also brings a lot of freshness to the wines.
This family estate belongs to the Vigouroux family, who have two castles in the area, with Château Mercuès (which houses a starred table). The Château de Haute-Serre has 60 hectares of vines with mainly Malbec and Chardonnay. It is one of the largest estates of the appellation and also one of the oldest, because wine has been made here since medieval times, even if there was an interruption in production between 1870 and 1970. The Château proceeds with aging in new oak barrels, which come from a cooper in Cognac. Regarding vintages, the Château produces 10 (including a sparkling wine and a rosé), including prestige vintages that are aged in amphorae to preserve the neutrality of the taste.
At the heart of the Château de Haute-Serre, its vineyard, and its cellars, we were lucky enough to visit the vineyard and its stone cellars with its beautiful cask room (which holds 7,000 liters of wine) and taste 5 of their wines. The Château also organizes many events and activities around wine tourism since 2010, with the desire to give the Malbec grape variety back its “premium” aura, as is the case in Argentina for example, a country with which the estate collaborates a lot. On the program: harvest workshop for companies; tasting workshops; introductions to oenology; escape game; electric scooter ride; and every Friday of the summer, Bodega evenings, music, wine, and little things to nibble on.
Château de Haute-Serre
46 230 Cieurac
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Lunch at the Table de Haute-serre
The Table de Haute-Serre (which has existed since 2010/2012) offers friendly and delicious cuisine based on local products. This restaurant is installed in an exceptional setting of stone cellars, which combines old walls and contemporary style, and for sunny days, the terrace is extremely pleasant (that is where we had lunch). The chef Grégory treated us to a beautiful winemaker’s table: between terroir cuisine and modernity.
La Table de Haute Serre
Price: menu from 36 € for weekday lunch / evening menu 65 € / unique Sunday menu 55 €
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Château Saint-Sernin in Parnac
We were welcomed at the Château Saint-Sernin by Anne Cavalié Swartvagher and Fara Swartvagher for a discovery of their estate and for a tasting of their wines. This couple of winemakers has taken over Anne’s family estate (which has been passed down for 14 generations) since 2005. They have 32 hectares of vines, located at the gates of Cahors, mainly with Malbec, and they work with 6 different grape varieties. They shared their passion for the vineyard with us, and we were able to discover their range of products: AOP Cahors wines, 100% Malbec or blended with 5 different vintages; IGP Côtes du Lot red, white, and rosé (dry or sweet); grape juice (100% Malbec); ratafia (winemaker’s aperitif); sparkling white of white Chardonnay.
The couple is also very active in terms of wine tourism and proposes multiple activities at the estate throughout the year, such as a fun and cultural hike in the heart of the vines, discovering the village of Parnac. They also organize an event, Barriq’Art, for over 10 years (open house weekend at the beginning of June and it lasts until the beginning of September)! It’s a tasty but also artistic experience with the creation of works of art on-site in the cellar by about thirty artists every year, who make creations around supports related to wine, especially barrels. Then the works created for this occasion are sold. In addition, every Friday evening in summer from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., you can enjoy gourmet aperitifs (only by reservation – 5 €) with a concert and accompanied by a buffet proposed by local caterers. Obviously, you can also find a wine bar there. Finally, in the spring, the estate organizes an evening called “Vin chez Nous” and in winter, a Christmas market with local artisans.
Château Saint-Sernin
Les Landes, 46 140 Parnac
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Clos Triguedina in Vire sur Lot
In Vire sur Lot, we went to the Clos Triguedina, at the Baldès family’s, to test the Vinocycle experience, a unique wine tourism experience. The estate, labeled “accueil vélo”, offers the rental of an electric-assist bike (Moustaches, the Rolls-Royce of EABs, which I told you about in my article on the visit to Epinal), accompanied by 4 marked thematic itineraries/parcours that are accessible from the property. You can use the “Openrunner” application to download the itineraries before taking the bikes, which we did.
On your return from the ride, or before, the winemaker will take you on a tour of his cellar and have you taste his wines in his modern “wine pavilion” that has existed since 2019. To give you a bit more info on this estate, the Clos Triguedina dates from 1830 and has been passed down for 7 generations (with Juliette Baldès who has taken over the management of the estate since the summer of 2023). It has about 73 hectares of vines in total and produces fifteen vintages in white, rosé (including a sparkling rosé), and red. It is certified High Environmental Value level 3 and has the objective of obtaining the “engaged winemakers” certification.
Clos Triguedina
Les Poujols, 46 700 Vire sur Lot
Vinocycle formula from 60 € per person for a full-day service with country lunch buffet including food/wine pairing, tasting, and bike rental for 2 or 4 people
Free tasting from Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. / guided tour – tasting by appointment (from 5 €)
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Thanks to Lot Tourisme and the Cahors Lot Valley Tourist Office for organizing this wonderful trip to discover Cahors and the Lot Valley.
I hope that with all this, I have made you want to visit Cahors and the Lot Valley, and if you also have your own tips and advice for this destination, do not hesitate to share them in the comments below!
Photo credits: Nicolas Diolez Photos not royalty-free, photographer's authorization mandatory before any use
