St Cirq Lapopie

Saint Cirq Lapopie is one of the France's most beautiful villages. Perched 100 metres above the cliffs along the River Lot, this medieval-style village is so pretty that it has been voted favourite village of the French in 2012.

It is a places to see in the Lot during your holidays, whatever the cost!

Getting to St Cirq Lapopie

How to get to Saint Cirq Lapopie by car

Located just 12 minutes from our gîtes in CabreretsOur travellers never miss it!

In St Cirq Lapopie, various parking areas are available (free in winter, €6 in high season). Free parking is available at the bottom of the village towards the campsite, from where it's a 15-20 minute walk up to the village.

If you’re lucky enough to visit out of season, the P4 «Village» car park won’t be full and will be the closest one (to get there, follow the arrows: you’ll need to drive past the village, continue up the hill, and you’ll then find the entrance leading to it).

During the summer season, it's highly likely that you'll have to take a few steps to get to the village. The capacity of the car parks will give you an idea of where you can park.

Walk to Saint Cirq Lapopie along the Chemin de Halage

Do you enjoy walking, discovering unusual places and taking in unique scenery? Then you’ll love a stroll along the River Lot from Bouziès to St Cirq Lapopie!

This walk will take you just over an hour. You’ll then pass through the impressive Ganil towpath cutting, carved into the cliff face for 300 metres and 2 metres high.

Along the way, you'll come across a superb bas-relief... But I won't tell you any more about it, just click to find out more. Towpath between Bouziès and Saint Cirq Lapopiewhich deserves its own page!

It’s worth noting that you can walk one way and take the boat the other way.

Take the boat to Saint Cirq Lapopie

Take a trip on a gabare along the River Lot! It’s a fantastic vantage point from which to admire Saint-Cirq-Lapopie.

The Cruises from St Cirq Lapopie offer a range of boat trips, including the RANDO cruise, which allows you to disembark to explore the town and then walk back along the towpath. You might also prefer to book your return journey on a gabare.

What to see in Saint Cirq Lapopie

The best way to enjoy this lovely village is, above all, to take a leisurely stroll. But I’d advise you to pop into the Tourist Office to pick up a free guidebook.

You can explore this small, steep village on foot, clinging to the cliffs above the River Lot. Partially classified historical monument, it’s a feast for the eyes.

Its narrow cobbled streets and medieval facades dating from the 14th centuryWith its beautiful wooden doors, half-timbered and carved stone walls and pointed roofs, everything here is pretty and harmonious.

From numerous small craft shops The streets are dotted with potters, jewellers, woodturners and local produce...

Religious monuments in Saint Cirq Lapopie

• Church of Saint Cyr and Saint JulitteThis 15th-century building is a listed historic monument.
• Several chapels These include the lower chapel of the Way of the Cross, the bargemen's chapel, the cemetery chapel and the Sainte Croix chapel in St Cirq Lapopie.

The civil heritage of St Cirq Lapopie

• Ruins of 3 ancient castles
• Rignault Museum
• Daura Houses, featuring an exhibition by contemporary artists

The history of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie

The name Saint Cirq Lapopie dates back to 1269, when it was cited under the Latin name Sancti Cirici de la Papia. The parish church honours Saint Cyra young Christian martyr from the early 4th century, and his mother Sainte Julitte or Juliette.

The history of the fort at Saint-Cirq-Lapopie

The first castle was built by Oldoric, Viscount of Saint Cirq. Thanks to its strategic location, it helped to ward off invasions.

Three lordly families shared the fort at the time: the Lapopie, Gourdon and Cardaillac families. These families built their castles here, and some remains can still be seen: a 13th-century tower, a main building and a free-standing enclosure dating from the late 13th and early 14th centuries.

• Lapopie Castle was situated on the highest rocky outcrop, known as the «Rocher de la Popie».
• The Gourdon family are said to have built a tower.
• The Cardaillac château was further down the road.

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

A flourishing Middle Ages

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

In the past, craftsmen made Saint Cirq Lapopie rich. The workshops of coppersmiths, woodturners – including the famous «roubinetaïres» – and leatherworkers lined the narrow streets.

Wood turners «tap-makers» in St Cirq made cooperage taps from boxwood, which were used to make barrels for wine. Cahors wine. There were no fewer than 38 woodturners in St Cirq Lapopie! Today, there is still one that you can visit in the village.

A major boating industry

At the foot of the cliffs, the Lot saw the passage of numerous boats that went down and then up again. They travelled down the Lot towards Bordeaux carrying cereals, Cahors wines and tobacco. On the return journey, they carried salt, dried fish and various manufactured goods.

The journey upstream was a tedious one, and required crossing from one bank to the other. It was in the mid-19th century that the boat haulers dug into the cliff face between Bouziès and St Cirq Lapopie to make it easier for flat-bottomed boats to travel up the River Lot. They pulled these boats using only their arm strength or with the help of horses.

Famous people from Saint Cirq Lapopie

• André Bretonpoet and writer, one of the founders of surrealism
• Pierre Daura, spanish painter
• Paul Paquereaupainter and theatre designer
• Henri Martinpost-impressionist painter
• Gérald Miquelformer Chairman of the General Council and Senator for the Lot