Among the ports of call along the river's course there are two Great Tourist Sites : Saint Cirq-Lapopie and Cahors.
Perched on a cliff top 80 metres above the river, Saint Cirq-Lapopie offers the stunning spectacle of its Gothic houses clinging in a jumble down the rock face. Below the village, officially recognised as one of the most beautiful in France, there is a special bathing area where you can swim safely in the Lot.
Six kilometres downriver from Saint Cirq-Lapopie is the Ganil tow path, which you can also walk along. This kilometre-long notch cut into the rock at the base of the cliff is one of the most spectacular features of the Lot's river heritage.
On reaching Cahors, the Lot flows under the Pont Valentré, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as is the Cathedral of Saint Etienne, because of its role in the St James's Way pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. Here you can moor up and visit the principal town of the Lot département. The town's fascinating heritage, lively atmosphere and southern charms, not forgetting its excellent restaurants, make it a particularly popular stopping point.
Other gems strung out along the banks of the Lot downriver from Cahors include the 'bastide' of Castelfranc, the wine village of Albas and the medieval towns of Luzech and Puy-L'Evêque.