SIGHTSEEING - LOT
 
History of Hotel Le Grézalide:
Situated on the edge of Grèzes, a typical Lot village on the limestone plateau known as the Causses, this hotel has a fascinating past. It was once a priory for the Knights Templars.
The centuries went past and by the 1600s it had became a seigneurie. After the Revolution the property then belonged to the State, housing the local mounted constabulary, the village school and town hall.

Once the mounted police had moved to Livernon, the property then became a holiday camp for children from the Parisian suburbs for almost 50 years.
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Hôtel le Grézalide
Le Bourg 46320 Grèzes - Lot
Tel : 05 65 11 20 40
Fax : 05 65 11 20 41
chateaugrezes@wanadoo.fr
www.grezalide.com
Longitude: 1°49'09 04 E
Latitude: 44°37'57 53 N



FIGEAC - 15 minutes drive to the East
Highly recommended. A vibrant town of some 10,000 inhabitants, whose origins probably go back to the foundation of a monastery in the 9th century. Its superb medieval architecture and picturesque streets are a real delight. The town is the birthplace of Jean-François Champollion, who was the first to decipher ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs using the triple text of the Rosetta Stone. Visit the magnificently refurbished museum dedicated to his work and the history of writing. Do not miss the Place des Ecritures. Enjoy the farmers' market on Saturday morning - food for the eyes as well as the palette!

ST. CIRQ LAPOPIE (30 minute's drive to the South)
Known as one of the most beautiful villages of France, it is perched on a promontory with a cliff that plunges down to the River Lot. It was shared amongst four feudal dynasties: the Lapopies, the Cardaillacs, the Gourdons and the Castelnaus, all powerful lords in the region in the Middle Ages.
The town still has many houses in stone and half-timbering, dating from 13th-16th centuries. The writer and co-founder of Surrealism, André Breton, lived here. For him the place was so special that he "stopped wanting to be elsewhere." The village still pays homage to the great artists who came to St. Cirq and has become a centre for arts and crafts. Not to be missed!

ROCAMADOUR (30 minutes to the North)
Who has not heard of this pilgrim city, clinging to a cliff face where, since the 12th century, people came to worship St. Amadour or the Black Virgin? Famous for its stone stairs that the pious climbed on their knees, its sanctuaries and its spectacular sceneries, this is one of the main tourist attractions in the Lot. We recommend you visit during lunchtime, when most people are eating, or at the end of the afternoon.

CAHORS (45 minutes' drive to the West)
Founded by the Romans in the first century before the birth of Christ, this county town of the Lot has a complex history of wars (both military and religious), of power struggles, of commerce and trade. On no account should you miss the fortified Valentré Bridge built in the 14th century, which is unique in Europe. The cathedral of St. Etienne in the old quarter is worth the detour. Market day is on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. Our recommendation: take a boat trip on the River Lot that winds through the Cahors vineyards, and be sure to visit the old quarter.

CÉLÉ VALLEY & PECH MERLE CAVES (5 minutes drive to the South, 20 minutes to South-West respectively)
The second name for this valley, long forgotten in the madness of today's world, is Val Paradis. A place of great beauty, the valley is also on the pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostella. Activities include hiking, canoeing, cycling, horse-riding and fishing.
Pech Merle is on a hill just to the North of the valley. It is one of the main Palaeolithic sites in Europe, with images that go back some 25,000 years. An absolute must (and a visit here can be combined with one to St. Cirq Lapopie nearby).

PADIRAC CAVE (30 minutes to the North-East)
You travel in a boat on the underground lake to visit this spectacular cave of geological marvels, unique in Europe. It is for old and young alike. Our advice: go before 11.00 a.m. to avoid long queues.

MARTEL & COLLONGES LA ROUGE
(30 minutes & 40 minutes drive to the North respectively) For an unforgettable day visit the Northern Lot and Southern Corrèze! These two villages have a wealth of history for you to discover. Our advice: do a circuit, returning via the Dordogne River and the Valley of the Bave that will give you more charming villages and castles of a time gone by!

THE PÉRIGORD: A LAND OF CASTLES (one hour drive to the North-West)
This region, next to the Lot, has a world class reputation for its wonderful landscapes, castles and villages. You will find yourself immersed in a rich past of prosperity and wars. You must visit the hilltop town of Domme, La Roque-Gageac, Beynac and the cluster of castles in the Dordogne Valley, finishing up in historic Sarlat.

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