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Saint-Cirq-Lapopie is THE Most Beautiful Village of France

Friday, September 12, 2014

Saint-Cirq-Lapopie is incredible. I have never ever seen any other village like this in France. It doesn't even seem real, at least not until you have to walk ridiculous inclined streets, then reality sits in. It is one of the most popular stops in the Lot department and on the list of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France.

This small, medieval town looks over the Lot River and is so high up that your nose could bleed. You need to drive, and you need to bring a big chunk of change to pay for parking. They give you 30 minutes free but it isn't physically possible to visit the town that fast (plus would you really want to?).
Walking the streets is like walking through a museum, everything and anything is historical. It is also extremely overcrowded during the summer months so it is best to visit in May or September. You will want good pictures of this village, I promise.
Fort de Saint-Cirq-Lapopie
In Saint-Cirq-Lapopie there are many shops, restaurants, and attractions. The main attraction is the thirteenth century fort that acted as a defense mechanism for the village. You can hike your way up to the top! It's breathtaking, unless you're afraid of heights then in that case it's the worst thing you'll ever encounter.
If you're a wine lover like Mathieu and I, stop-in to the Musée du Vin. Saint-Cirq-Lapopie is not too far from Cahors, and their "black wine," is DELICIOUS. You can read more about Cahors wine here on Mathieu's blog. If you're more on the artsy side there is also The Rignault Museum, offering centuries of art, which was a prominent part of this village's culture. 
My favorite part about the town is indefinitely the location. Being that it's surrounded by nature, you can take part in just about any outdoor sport. There are several kayaking, hiking, and mountain climbing businesses in the area. So for those of you who again, don't like heights--just stick to the boat! Or just eat, you can never go wrong with eating.



I'm an American girl living in Florida, so why do I write about the South of France? I have my husband, Mathieu to thank for that! (From the name you can assume he is indeed a Frenchman). We've lived in Bordeaux and have also traveled the country together. Our relationship has resulted in more adventures and cultural experiences than I had ever dreamed of. Thus my inspiration for showing others what France and its surrounding countries have to offer.

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