Villa Castan

Villa Castan is only 3.5km to Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’, in the southern French department of Lot. Here you are surrounded by the landscapes of the Causses du Quercy Natural Regional Park, around half an hour from the historic town and vineyards of Cahors.

The holiday home enjoys a rural setting with a few other houses dotted around, just north of the Lot River. There is a little hamlet/village around 2km down the road with a tabac-boulangerie whilst large supermarkets can be found close to Cahors (30km). A handful of lovely restaurants and bars are in the village of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie.

Perched overlooking the Lot River, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie (3.5km) is an incredibly picturesque village which has attracted many artists over the years thanks to its beauty and charm. Head there early to get a parking space in one of the car parks on the outskirts of the village connected to the village via a footpath. Explore the narrow and sometimes steep medieval lanes of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie and admire the views from the highest point near the remains of the old fortresses. In the village centre many of the houses date back to the 13th to 16th century, some now home to artist studios and little galleries. In the summer head to the riverside beach for supervised swimming.

There is seasonal canoeing, kayaking and boat excursions along the Lot River in Saint-Cirq-Lapopie and Bouziès (4km) alongside the exciting Chemin de Halage walking trail, partly carved into the rockface. Heading east along the river come across the village of Cénevières (8km), home to the 13th century Château de Cénevières which you can visit, whilst the prehistoric Pech Merle caves (9km) are another great attraction of this area.

The handsome town of Cahors (30km) is a must-visit during your stay (and it is the best place to stock up in large supermarkets). As you explore the old town, follow the garden trail and come across pretty medieval houses, historic buildings and excellent restaurants. There is a bustling twice-weekly market and the town is surrounded by some of the finest Malbec-producing vineyards in France. Cahor’s bridge, Pont Valentré, is one of France’s UNESCO World Heritage sites.

In the other direction is Figeac (45km), an attractive town which is full of history and charm by the banks of the River Célé. Two more of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’ can be found close to Figeac – Cardaillac (50km) and Capdenac (58km), both around an hour away by car.

Further afield, you could even venture south to the historic vineyards of Gaillac (84km), the perched village of Cordes-sur-Ciel (66km) and beautiful Albi (90km), all three located in the ‘Golden Triangle of the Tarn’.

Read more about Midi-Pyrenees

A relatively new addition to France, the Midi-Pyrénées was created to surround the cultural capital of Toulouse in the late 1970s. You might think that its relative youth would mean the Midi-Pyrénées is short on character or identity, but remember, this is France we’re talking about – the whole country is steeped in history and tradition. Encompassing parts of Gascony, Languedoc, the Gers and several others, you’ll get a varied slice of the whole French experience here, not least if you stay at one of our beautiful chateaux in the Midi-Pyrénées! And if you want to discover the best of what the region has to offer, our Midi-Pyrénées travel guide is here to show you where to go, what to eat and how you can make the best of your break with some amazing activities.

Download our Midi-Pyrénées Travel Guide >>