Saint-cirq-lapopie

 Partly classified Historic building, this famous place is a rare surrealist and magic beauty.

Suspended with the rock since the 8th century between the sky and the Batch which runs with its feet (80 meters of balance!), its situation made of it a stake during the One hundred year old war. The impressive strengthened Gothic church dominates this unit.

Glance and imagination are pulled by the perfect harmony of the stones , the roofs in cascade of brown tiles, the picturesque houses with arcades, the gravers with sides of wood, doors and lanes escarpées. Skin dressers, ironmongers and especially wood turners made the richness of the borough, and, still aujourd' today, museum and workshops revive this activity.

• Strange

Throughout the 20th century, artists, poets and writers were allured by the enchantment of the place: André Breton fixed her residence at it and made of it a place of appointment of the surrealist movement. Paul Paquereau, Pierre Daura, Joseph Rignault, max Ernst and Man Ray came there to join.

• For discovering more:

Three remarkable points of view: from Right Bank of the Batch, on road CD8 for the harmonize village or top of the vestiges of the old fortress.

The house which shelters the Rignault museum bears the name of its owner, painter and collector of the beginning of the 20th century. The garden which one should not miss dominates the village and the valley of the Batch, a splendid point of view.

Temporary exhibitions of modern and contemporary art accompany the presentation by collector's items of the museum.

Guided visits of the village of Tuesday at Saturday at 11:00, departure of Fourdonne.

Come to discover the history of Saint Cirq Lapopie through the various witnesses of its past. Free permanent exposure on the wood turnery. Three rooms on the history, architecture and archaeology in the arched cellars of a house of the XVIIth century.

In a wild and secret valley, le Célé, one of the largest paleolithic sanctuaries opened to the public.

Discover one of the most beautiful artistic expressions of the Prehistory, exceptionally preserved since 25.000 years.

Horses, mammoths, bisons, of tens of figurations play with the relief of the rock, the colors and the light. Come to admire exceptional compositions of l' prehistoric art, among oldest of Europe.

Pech Merle, this is also the art of nature. Worked by the water and time, the cave creates its own works: stone flowers, delicate contours of draperies, scintillating colors, a natural decoration rich in surprises.

From Cahors to Figeac, the valley of the Lot you will surprise, with each turning of the river or almost, by the discovery of a panorama or a village. The valley of That more secret and close friend, is rich in prehistoric memories and houses harmonizing completely with nature.

BOUZIES: The tow path for a walk at the time of the marines between Bouziès and the lock of Ganil. Cruising in boat walk or gabarre without licence. " Castle of Anglais". Narrow road of cornice overhanging the valley between Bouziès and Saint-Cirq Lapopie.

CABRERETS: Decorated prehistoric cave of the Pech-Merle. Ruins of the castle troglodytic of the Devil, fixed on cliff. Course " Art and Patrimoine" in the middle of the village. Fountain of Pescalerie and museum of  Strange in direction of Sauliac on Célé.

SAULIAC SUR CELE: Museum of Cuzals for a discovery of the rural history of the Lot. Walk excursion of the " Sauliac" old man; with sight on the valley of That and the " castle of Anglais".

CALVIGNAC: Superb medieval village perched on its rock offering a sight on the valley.

THE TOULZANIE: Troglodytic houses.

CENEVIERES: Castle Rebirth.

ST CIRQ LAPOPIE: One of the " More beautiful Villages of France" , partly classified Historic building, on its rock overhanging the Batch. This medieval village celebrated by André Breton, " Pope of Surréalisme" , accomodates many artists. Extraordinary panoramic sight on the valley and the river.

On the Lot, in Saint-Cirq Lapopie, the access is arranged, the quality and the level of water are controlled daily in summer and the bathe is supervised in July-August afternoon. The use of this place is to be privileged, in particular for the families.

The point of swimming is:

• Saint-Cirq Lapopie, the Beach: nautical halt, picnic and adventure playground, hiring of canoe-kayak

• The way of St Jacques de Compostelle

More than 650 km of GR. are maintained and marked out on the department of the Batch whose way of Saint Jacques de Compostelle, sees historical connecting Puy in Velay to St Jacques de Compostelle. An alternative makes it possible to discover the valley of That by the GR651

• The Ways speak

With " The Ways which Parlent" , discover the legend of a village, learn how to know the traditional frame of our shepherds, admire our landscapes and find the traces of our ancestors.

These small excursions from 3 to 10 kilometers at the beginning of 19 villages different and accessible to all will allure you in an original way.

• The Tow path

A walk at the time of the marines on the GR36.

Departure of the carpark of Bouziès until the lock of Ganil: 3 km return ticket (45mn).

Departure of the carpark of Bouziès until the village of St Cirq Lapopie by borrowing a small path GR36 which goes back to the borough: 10 km return ticket (2h).

Departure of the nautical halt of St Cirq Lapopie, while skirting the Batch jusqu' in Bouziès: 15 km return ticket (2h30).