Le Peuch - Location

Location

Southwest France
Close to Le Puech
Further afield
People
Cuisine
Climate
Getting here
Links

Southwest France

Southwest France is the earliest known site of human habitation in Western Europe and there are prehistoric caves at Foissac and PechMerle. The region is renowned for its medieval castles, Romanesque Churches, and bastide towns and villages.

The region’s landscape is quite varied, and even a short drive from Le Peuch will lead you to some stunning scenery. The surrounding countryside is that of rolling, tree-topped hills and pastureland bordered by drystone walls. Eight miles to the north, the valley of the Lot has dramatic limestone cliffs, which give spectacular views over the river and beyond.

The area’s famous limestone causses are high plateaux, covered by carpets of wildflowers in springtime. Further south are the wooded hills, lush valleys and rugged gorges of the Aveyron.

Close to Le Peuch

Sainte Croix is three miles from Le Puech and is where you will buy freshly baked bread, pastries and basic supplies from the boulangerie/village shop, which offers a free daily bread delivery service. There is also an excellent restaurant offering good value for money in a pleasant garden setting.

The pretty bastide village of Villeneuve, with its thirteenth-century Romanesque church is six miles from Le Puech. Relax with beer or coffee in a cafe on the village square, stock up on provisions at the supermarket, pharmacy, and delicatessen, or have a meal at one of the restaurants.

Cajarc is a delightful little town on the Lot, about 8 miles from Le Puech. Here you will find facilities for water-skiing, restaurants and a lovely old part of town to stroll around. A riverboat trip along the Lot operates during the summer. Horse-riding stables and canoeing can be found a couple of miles beyond the town along the road that runs by the Lot.

Another bastide town, Villefranche de Rouergue lies 8 miles in the other direction, spread across the banks of the river Aveyron. Famous both for its medieval architecture and one of the country’s largest markets (on Thursdays), it also offers large supermarkets, banks and several good cafes and restaurants.

Further afield

Other towns worth visiting are Najac (40 mins drive), St Cirque Lapopie (30 mins), Cordes (1 hr), Conques (50 mins) and Figeac (30 mins). Figeac is a lovely old town and has a food market every Saturday morning in the summer. The famous town of Cahors is one hour's drive away, and Rocamadour is about one and a half hours. The town of St Antonin-Noble-Val (about 1 hour) is a canoeing centre for serious enthusiasts who want to explore the spectacular Aveyron gorge. The world’s tallest vehicular bridge, the Millau Viaduct, is slightly higher than the Eiffel Tower and is also within driving distance.

People

The local people are polite, friendly and helpful, and although there is tourism in the region, it is unobtrusive. Apart from the obvious tourist traps, the shops and restaurants are dependent largely upon local trade. You can hear the ancient language of Occitan spoken in the region, and signage in Figeac is bilingual.

Cuisine

Local delicacies include duck and foie gras. Charcuteries, selling a variety of cured meats, are dotted around the countryside. Locally produced cheeses are Cantal (the closest one will find to Cheddar in France), the famous Roquefort and Bleu de Causses, a crumbly blue cheese.

The region's wines are Marcillac, Gaillac and Cahors.

Climate

The climate of Southern France is temperate and is mainly dry and hot during the summer months, with some dramatic thunderstorms at night. The spectacular lightning displays can be enjoyed from the shelter of veranda.