Day 33 – Nous visitons Montcuq, Lauzerte et Castelnau-Montratier

 

Cheeses of all types.  

 

One of the recommendations from the visitor centre in Cahors was to visit Moncuq and Lauzerte.  A journey that was meant to take half an hour took quite a bit longer as part of the main road was closed and we were directed around a number of narrow roads.  It was very much up hill and down dale, occasionally taking the wrong turn.  Finally we arrived.  There was a market with a smaller range of vegetables etc than in Cahors.  We looked around.  The main street was quite attractive despite the stalls.  There was apparently a view up a tower but we decided to forgo that experience to visit a hilltop village called Lauzerte.  It was a good call. It is a bastide village which has been fought over for centuries. 


Montcuq

The village was about 15 kms away from Mouquat It was gorgeous and largely untouched I suspect since medieval times apart from necessary electricity, water and sewage infrastructure having been put in.  We came across some interesting wrought iron work and happened on the workshop in which it was created.  The artiste was even sitting outside smoking a gauloise or something like that. 

Inside the workshop

Exchanging the baton


The church was small but rather nice and dated from the 18th century I think with part of it dating from much earlier.  We sat in the square and had a coffee. I think it was another Camino stop as we saw a number of long distance walkers. 

Lauzerte village square

Lauzerte is part of Tarn et Garonne not the Lot valley so not officially part of the administrative area of Cahors. 

The views over the countryside were very nice although the haze tending to take away the definition of the sights.

Then it was onto Castelnau-Montratier.  Another interesting church, more for its Bysantine design and size in such a relatively small community.  The town itself was unremarkable although a tourist book recommended it. 

Inside the Basilica





Art in Castelnau


We then returned to Cahors for our evening drink. Above are a number of images of Lauserte













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