St Cirq Lapopie

Saint Cirq Lapopie is one of the most beautiful villages in France. Nestled 100 meters above the cliffs along the Lot, this medieval-looking village is so pretty that it was elected favorite village of the French in 2012.

It's a place to see in the Lot during your vacation, whatever the cost!

Getting to St Cirq Lapopie

Go to Saint Cirq Lapopie by car

Located just 12 minutes from our cottages in Cabrerets, our travelers never miss it!

In St Cirq Lapopie, various parking areas are available (free in winter, single price of €6 in season). Free parking is available at the bottom of the village towards the campsite, from which you will have a 15-20 minute walk up to the village.

If you are lucky enough to visit out of season, then the P4 car park “Village” will not be complete and will be the closest (to do this, follow the arrows, you must go beyond the village, continue up the hill, and then find the entrance that will take you there).

During the summer season, it is very likely that you will have to take a few steps to reach the village. The capacities of the car parks will allow you to see where you will find parking.

Reach Saint Cirq Lapopie on foot via the Chemin de Halage

Do you like walking, discovering an unusual place and enjoying a unique landscape? So you'll love walking along the Lot from Bouziès to reach St Cirq Lapopie!

This path will take you a little over an hour. You will then pass through the impressive furrow of the Ganil Towpath, dug into the cliff over 300 meters, with a height of 2 meters.

On this path you will discover a superb bas-relief… But I won't tell you more, click to better discover the Towpath between Bouziès and Saint Cirq Lapopie, which deserves its own page!

Please note that you can go one way on foot and the other by boat.

Take the boat to Saint Cirq Lapopie

Take a boat trip on the Lot! It’s a fantastic viewpoint from which to admire Saint Cirq Lapopie.

THE St Cirq Lapopie Cruises offer you several options for trips on the water, including the RANDO cruise which allows you to set foot on land to visit the city then return on foot via the towpath. You may also prefer to book the return trip by barge.

What to see in Saint Cirq Lapopie?

Enjoying this beautiful village means, above all, strolling peacefully. But I advise you to go to the Tourist Office to obtain a free visit guide.

We discover on foot this small steep village clinging to the cliff above the Lot. Partially classified historical monument, it’s a delight for the eyes.

Its narrow cobbled streets and its medieval facades from the 14th century, its beautiful wooden doors, its half-timbering and cut stones, the pointed roofs, everything here is pretty and harmonious.

Of many small craft shops dot the streets: potters, jewelry stores, wood turners, local products…

The religious monuments of Saint Cirq Lapopie

• Church of Saint Cyr and Sainte Julitte, from the 15th century, classified as a historic monument.
• Several chapels : lower chapel of the Stations of the Cross, chapel of the sailors, chapel of the cemetery, and chapel of Sainte Croix de St Cirq Lapopie.

The civil heritage of St Cirq Lapopie

• Ruins of 3 ancient castles
• Rignault Museum
• The Daura Houses, with exhibition of contemporary artists

The history of Saint Cirq Lapopie

We find the name of Saint Cirq Lapopie as early as 1269, then cited under the Latin name Saint Cirici de la Papia. The parish church honors Saint Cyr, young Christian martyr from the beginning of the 4th century, and his mother Sainte Julitte or Juliet.

The evolution of the fort of Saint Cirq Lapopie

The first castle was built by Oldoric, Viscount of Saint Cirq. Well placed, it helped avoid invasions.

Three noble families then shared the fort: the Lapopie, the Gourdon, and the Cardaillac. These families built their castles there, of which we can still find vestiges: a 13th century tower, a main building and an independent enclosure from the end of the 13th century. – early 14th century.

• The Lapopie castle was located on the highest rocky part, called “Rocher de la Popie”.
• The Gourdons, for their part, would have built a tower.
• While the Cardaillac castle was located lower down.

It was in the 15th century that families abandoned their castles.

A flourishing Middle Ages

Many Saint-Cirquois houses were built between the 13th and 16th centuries. They are generally narrow, and have a characteristic flat-tiled roof.

In the past, artisans made Saint Cirq Lapopie rich. The workshops of boilermakers, wood turners including the famous “roubinetaïres”, and leather workers followed one another in the alleys.

Wood turners “roubinetaïres” de St Cirq manufactured cooperage taps in boxwood, which were used for barrels of Cahors wine. There were no less than 38 wood turners at St Cirq Lapopie! Today, there is still one that you can visit in the town.

An important boating activity

At the foot of the cliffs, the Lot saw passing many boats which descended then rose again. They went down the Lot towards Bordeaux to transport cereals, Cahors wines and even tobacco. On their return, they carried salt, dried fish, and various manufactured products.

The climb back up was tedious, and required going from one bank to another. It was in the middle of the 19th century that haulers dug the cliff between Bouziès and St Cirq Lapopie to make it easier for flat-bottomed boats to come up the Lot. They pull these boats by hand or with the help of horses.

Known personalities of Saint Cirq Lapopie

• André Breton, poet and writer, one of the founders of surrealism
• Pierre Daura, Spanish painter
• Paul Paquereau, painter and theater decorator
• Henry Martin, post-impressionist painter
• Gerald Miquel, former President of the General Council and Senator of Lot