St Cirq Lapopie

For the last week and a ½ we have been staying in ‘The most Beautiful Village in France’, or so they say.  I'm sure there are others who would lay claim to that as well but it is certainly in the top 10!

It is high up a cliff with the River Lot flowing through the valley below. Our campsite is on the banks of the Lot, where there is a small shingle beach enabling us to swim in the cool waist-high waters….so refreshing. The village is a 700 metre climb either along the road or through the woods—it’s 700 metres whichever way you go.

During our first week the weather wasn’t very good and we found ourselves back in jeans and jumpers, but since 21st June the sun has come back with a vengeance and we’ve had to swim 2/3 times a day just to keep cool. Our pitch is right next to the river which makes it easy, even though we have a small laurel hedge just in front of us.

The owners are very friendly and helpful and they have a small restaurant which cooks our meals whenever we want them to!

St. Cirq-Lapopie is now described as a ‘craftsmen’s village’. It really is quite unique with a photo opportunity at every corner. Most of our photos of the village itself were taken at ten o’ clock at night when we went for a meal there it gives the village a deserted feel and also you don't get to see the hues of the sunlight pouring through the streets.  During the day it is filled with visitors and everywhere is open, which gives it a real buzz, but the heat put us off making the climb during the day.

 

That's our caravan and awning in the bottom left-hand corner of the picture


and these are some of the views from our pitch

What a difference a week makes!

The next picture shows nearby Chateau des Anglais - doesn't look much but the minimalist exterior hides a labyrinth of rooms and tunnels which give access to the top of the cliff - was apparently used by the English to hide in after they'd fought with the French in St Cirq.