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Meanders of the LotA land steeped in history
Nights: 6
Starting point: Hotel Bellevue (3*), Puy l'Evêque. Located in the centre of the Vieux Quartier (old town), this is a stylish, beautifully decorated hotel with spacious bedrooms. Perhaps its best feature is the view over the River Lot, which gives the hotel its name. The broadest panorama is enjoyed by the restaurant, where you can gaze out of the huge windows as you savour delicious cuisine. Day 1: for your first day, we suggest a walk eastwards to attractive Prayssac. You can extend the walk by continuing beyond the town to some dolmens, but you may prefer to return directly via a stream valley so as to spend the rest of the day in Puy l'Evêque, perhaps even hiring a canoe to gain a different perspective of the town's golden-stone houses, church and castle keep, the former residence of the bishops of Cahors. (11km, 3.5hrs) Accommodation: Hotel Bellevue, as above. Day 2: today you head west to handsome Duravel, whose inhabitants withstood a six-week siege by the English in 1369 (the area was an important battleground in the Hundred Years War). Take time to explore the narrow streets and ancient church before picking up a disused railway line which follows a lazy meander of the river through woodland. The day finishes by crossing the Lot to reach Touzac. (12km, 4hrs) Accommodation: La Source Bleue (3*), near Touzac. Originally a watermill, this handsome stone building is now a peaceful hotel with an excellent restaurant. The 16 bedrooms are attractively styled, while the well-tended gardens incorporate a swimming pool, a small lake and a bamboo garden. Day 3: you could fill your day with wine-tastings -there are a couple of vineyards nearby - or a walk north of the river. Though relatively long (you can shorten it by paying for a taxi part of the way), it rewards you with plenty of cultural interest as well as sweeping views over the Thèze Valley as it leads via the pretty villages of Cavagnac and St-Martin-le-Redon to the romantic and splendidly situated château of Bonaguil. Completed in the late 15th century with 13 towers and a double ring of walls, it was one of the last castles to be built in the area, and boasts a network of concealed passages, a boat-shaped keep and a dramatic position at the end of a wooded spur overlooking two valleys. (15km, 5hrs) Accommodation: La Source Bleue, as above. Day 4: your final destination is Mauroux, which you reach after a short, gentle walk past vineyards where you can pause for tastings. Accommodation: Hostellerie le Vert (3*), near Mauroux. This hotel is a wonderful blend of ancient and modern, with original features such as the exposed stonework and dark wooden beams of the restaurant lending it great character. There are just seven bedrooms, all of which enjoy views over the surrounding countryside (which is dominated by vineyards), ensuring an intimate atmosphere. You can savour Bernard Philippe's superb cuisine in the atmospheric restaurant or on the terrace, beyond which are pleasant gardens and a swimming pool shaded by ancient cedars. Day 5: enjoy one final, leisurely walk through the southern vineyards on your last day before returning to Le Vert to relax by the pool. Accommodation: Hostellerie le Vert, as above. Walking chart: the chart gives the distance and an approximation of the ascents and descents involved each day. If comparing holidays, please note the scale of each chart as this can differ.
Recommendations for extra nights: for relaxation in beautiful surroundings, we recommend either La Source Bleue (Touzac) or Le Vert (Mauroux). Take the Train and break your journey for a night in Paris on the way, staying at one of our favourite Parisian hotels. Read about one traveller's experiences in her personal travel diary. Other information: if you would like to see the brochure page, you can download this (and the pages for any other holidays you are interested in) by using our brochure creation system. Similar holidays: Châteaux & Vineyards (grade 1), Sunflowers & Abbeys (grade 1-2), From the Tarn to the Aveyron (grade 1-2), Villages of the Dordogne (grade 1-2), Paths to Rocamadour (grade 1-2), To the Pont du Gard (grade 1-2), Catalan Castles & Coves (grade 1), Spain's Secret Sierra (grade 1-2), Hill-Top Towns of Tuscany (grade 1-2), A Stroll through History (grade 1-2) Prices & travel 2008:
Recommended destination airport: Toulouse & Limoges 2008 extra night prices
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Picturesque scenery, honey-coloured medieval villages, plentiful sunshine and an intriguing history lend the Lot Valley to leisurely exploration. From its exquisite stone villages to its delicious cuisine based on duck and goose, and from its beautiful, meandering river to its crumbling châteaux, the Lot Valley holds much in common with its northerly neighbour, the Dordogne. The one difference is that this is France off the tourist trail, and in the tranquillity you can truly appreciate the Lot’s timelessness and rich wildlife, including many raptors, butterflies and wild orchids. West of the wine-producing town of Cahors, the river performs a series of languorous loops past medieval villages such as Puy-l’Evêque. Our walk starts here, leading south-west through a subtly evolving landscape in which soft, wooded hills and rolling farmland yield to an increasing number of vines as you cross onto the plain that stretches south of the Lot. It is impossible to tire of the ever-changing river views, and the leisurely routes allow plenty of time to relax at the three hôtels de charme which, with very high standards for 3-star hotels, are another real highlight of the holiday.
Hotel Bellevue 
