Cahors

The 14th-century fortified bridge is the finest medieval bridge in Europe: six pointed arches, three square towers, and a silhouette that is instantly recognisable. The bridge is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the GR65 crosses it as you leave Cahors heading west. Walk across slowly. Look for the small carved devil on the central tower (legend says the builder sold his soul to complete the bridge on time). The view of the bridge from the riverbank, reflected in the water on a calm day, is one o

One of the earliest domed churches in France, the cathedral has two large Romanesque domes that give the interior a spacious, luminous quality. The carved north portal, depicting the Ascension of Christ surrounded by angels and apostles, is a masterpiece of Romanesque sculpture. The 16th-century cloister, with carved capitals and a peaceful garden, is accessible from the cathedral and worth a visit. The combination of the domes, the portal, and the cloister makes Saint-Etienne one of the most ar

Cahors gives its name to one of the most distinctive wines in France. Made primarily from the Malbec grape (known locally as Cot), Cahors wine is deep, dark, almost black in colour, with rich flavours of plum, blackberry, and spice. The vineyards surround the city and the wine is served in every restaurant. Ask at the tourist office about vineyard visits if you have a rest day. A glass of Cahors with a plate of duck confit is one of the defining food experiences of Le Chemin du Puy.

The medieval old town fills the peninsula within the loop of the Lot river. The streets are narrow and crooked, with half-timbered houses, carved stone doorways, and Renaissance mansions. The Secret Gardens of Cahors (Jardins Secrets de Cahors), a series of hidden gardens behind the old houses, are open to the public in summer and offer a green, peaceful counterpoint to the stone streets. The Saturday market on the Place de la Liberation sells local produce, truffles, walnuts, and cheese. The ma

Cahors is the second major rest day opportunity on Le Chemin du Puy (after Conques). The bridge, the cathedral, the old town, the wine, and the food all justify a day off. The city also has good transport connections (train to Toulouse and Paris) and is a natural break point for pilgrims walking the Chemin in sections. You are now approximately halfway between Le Puy-en-Velay and Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. The landscape ahead changes from the limestone causses to the rolling farmland of Gascony.