The sightseeing suggestions provided here are reachable from towns or villages in the Dordogne Valley, mainly Souillac, Carennac and Montvalent.
Culture and sightseeing
Other Great Tourist Sites in Occitania / Pyrenees-Mediterranean
31 minutes from Souillac :
53 minutes from Montvalent :
Towns and villages
36 minutes from Souillac :
15 minutes from Carennac :
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Autoire and Loubressac: kill two birds with one stone… these two lovely villages, officially recognised as among the most beautiful in France, are only 5 km apart. www.visit-dordogne-valley.co.uk
17 minutes from Carennac :
- Saint Céré : a pleasant and appealing little town with grand 15th and 16th century town houses.
Markets
17 minutes from Souillac :
- Martel : a Wednesday and Saturday morning market is held in Martel's splendid covered market square. A great opportunity to enjoy every detail of this unspoilt medieval town.
Châteaux
15 minutes from Carennac :
Museums
17 minutes from Carennac :
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Atelier-Musée Jean Lurçat, Saint Céré : nestling among the old stone buildings of Saint Laurent-les-Tours, this studio-cum-museum of the famous artist and tapestry designer Jean Lurçat (1892-1966) overlooks Saint Céré. Tel. +33 (0)5 65 38 28 21 – www.tourisme-lot.com
Attractions
17 minutes from Souillac :
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The Haut Quercy Railway, Martel : board the train pulled by a gleaming locomotive to travel along the old railway line cut into the rock face overlooking the Dordogne Valley. Spectacular! Tel. +33 (0)5 65 37 35 81 - www.trainduhautquercy.info
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The walnut oil mill, Martel : it's fascinating to see the Dordogne walnuts being crushed under the millstone, releasing their enticing smell as they are turned into oil. Tel. +33 (0)5 65 37 40 69 – www.tourisme-lot.com
Outdoor activities
Sites of outstanding natural beauty
14 minutes from Carennac :
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Gouffre de Padirac: one of the most famous sinkholes in France - unmissable! Tel. +33 (0)5 65 33 64 56 – www.gouffre-de-padirac.com
20 minutes from Carennac :
- Cirque d’Autoire: this impressive cirque is flanked by rock faces and features a 30-metre waterfall.
Walking
From Souillac :
- 'Circuit de la Durantie' : a 10.5km walk (moderate difficulty) over varied terrain with some fine viewpoints of the Dordogne and the village and château of Cieurac. Route description (in French) in the walking guide Midi-Pyrénées à pied (ref. RE02 – pub. FFRP).
Mountain biking
From Bretenoux :
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'Circuit dans les vignes de Glanes' : an easy and beautiful 12km ride through the little Glanes vineyard, which produces some attractive reds and rosés. Route description at www.tourisme-lot.com
Golf
15 minutes from Carennac :
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Montal golf course: the terraced fairways provide wonderful panoramas of the pretty village of Saint Jean Lespinasse and the Château de Montal. Tel. +33 (0)5 65 10 83 09 – www.golf-montal.fr
Fairs and festivals
17 minutes from Carennac :
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Festival Lyrique de Saint-Céré: a real treat for opera fans: music and song at the Dordogne Valley's finest heritage sites. In July/August. www.opera-eclate.com