"Quercy: between Lot and Dordogne rivers" Figeac by XenoHumph

Figeac Travel Guide: 4 reviews and 59 photos

France's countryside in all its splendor

Gorgeous villages, mighty castles, peaceful rivers, amazing food, pleasant weather, lovely landscapes, impressive caves, excellent wines, fascinating prehistory and history... the Quercy region has it all! If you want to experience France outside Paris, this is the region I would advise you to visit.

A few highlights:

Dordogne river boats in Carennac, Lot, France

Caves dug by water for millions of years in limestone were later visited by pre-historic man who left dreamy drawings of buffaloes and mammoths more than 10,000 years ago! See my soon to come tips on Pech-Merles and Padirac caves.

The Middle-age 100-year war swept through Quercy leaving vilages and castles built by the French and the English, yes you read perfectly well, the English who owned big chunks of the region at the time! See my soon to come tips on Montpazier town, Bonaguil and Castelnau castles.

Religious fervor always ran though Quercy which many towns are on the Christian pilgrimage route to Compostelle in Spain, and resulting in many gorgeous villages full of beautiful churches, convents and abbeys. See my soon to come tips on Rocamadour, the Célé valley, and Cadouin.

Quercy offers some of the best food and wine experience you can get in France with specialties of duck and geese accompanied by the deliciously strong red wine Cahors.

The red star shows where Figeac is located.

Location of Figeac in France

Cahors, about 100 km West of Figeac is the other main town. Quercy is a region of southwestern France, roughly between the 2 rivers Dordogne and Lot which are tributaries to the Garonne river. It constitutes the southwestern foothills of the mountainous central France called Massif Central. Although it is not an administrative unit (not a "région" or "département"), I find it convenient to use the term Quercy because it encompasses lands united by their history, geography and food.

As there is not a Quercy category in VirtualTourist, I picked Figeac, a lovely town at the heart of it, to build a page on the whole region.

Last visit to Figeac: Sep 2005
Intro Updated Oct 7, 2005
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Reviews (27)

Street of Montpazier, Dordogne, France - Figeac

Ugly cars parked everywhere Local Customs (7)

In construction more travel advice

Tobacco leaves drying at Castelnau, Lot, France - Figeac

Tobacco Local Customs (7)

In construction more travel advice

Geese in Cadoin, Dordogne, France - Figeac

Geese and ducks food tradition Local Customs (7)

In construction more travel advice

Cemetary in Célé Valley, Lot, France - Figeac

French Cemeteries Local Customs (7)

In construction more travel advice

Things to Do (17)
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Comments (4)

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aussirose Feb 15, 2010 at 3:47 PM

Hiya. Very helpful tips, thanks. We plan to visit next year. I just love that night bridge pic!! Can't wait to see that!! Cheers, Ann.
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breughel Nov 1, 2008 at 1:48 AM

Belle page sur le Quercy, région plus sauvage et moins connue des touristes du moins il y a 25 ans lorsque je faisais du kayak sur le Célé. Vos photos m'ont rappelé de belles vacances près de Figeac.
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JLBG Jan 27, 2007 at 9:44 PM

Superbes photos, en attendant mieux, mais je sais que ça demande du temps! Musée de la bicyclette? Ça devrait être interessant!
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mtncorg Oct 6, 2005 at 8:22 AM

A glorious part of France that I look forward to learning more about virtually!