TownAveyron / Lot Valley494 km to Saint Jean Pied de Port

Figeac

A historic medieval town with a well-preserved old quarter, the Champollion Museum dedicated to the decipherer of Egyptian hieroglyphics, and full services.

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About Figeac

Figeac is a historic medieval town in the Lot department, known for its well-preserved old quarter of sandstone buildings and timber-framed houses. The town is the birthplace of Jean-Francois Champollion, who deciphered Egyptian hieroglyphics using the Rosetta Stone, and a museum in his honour is housed in his childhood home.

Pilgrims will find gites, hotels, restaurants, cafes, supermarkets, ATMs, pharmacies, and a train station. The Saturday market is lively and the old town is well worth exploring.

Figeac is one of the larger and better-serviced towns on Le Chemin du Puy, making it a good rest day option. The Place des Ecritures features a giant reproduction of the Rosetta Stone by the artist Joseph Kosuth.

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Explore Figeac

The Camino through town, with prices where the beds are. Amber is the route; each pin is a place to stay.

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Things to do

Things to do in Figeac

5 things

HistoryVisit the Musee ChampollionThe museum dedicated to Jean-Francois Champollion and the history of writing is housed in the Champollion family home. The collection covers writing systems from Mesopotamian cuneiform to Chinese calligraphy to Egyptian hieroglyphics. The story of how Champollion cracked the code of the Rosetta Stone is told with clarity and drama. Outside, in the Place des Ecritures, a full-scale reproduction of the Rosetta Stone is carved into the ground in black granite. It is a…

SightWalk the Medieval Old TownThe old town of Figeac is a joy to explore on foot. The narrow streets connect a series of small squares, each surrounded by medieval and Renaissance buildings. Look up to see the soleilhos, the open-topped attic galleries on the upper floors that were used for drying goods. The timber-framed houses, the stone towers, and the carved doorways create a townscape that has changed little in 500 years. The Saturday morning market in the Place Carnot is lively and colourful.

Camino MomentChoose Your Route to CahorsFrom Figeac, you can continue on the main GR65 route to Cahors (about 90 km through the Causse limestone plateau). Or you can take the Cele Valley variant (GR651), which follows the Cele river through limestone gorges, past painted prehistoric caves, and through villages including Marcilhac-sur-Cele and Cabrerets before rejoining the GR65 near Cahors. The Cele variant is slightly longer but many pilgrims consider it more beautiful. The main route has more pilgrim…

FoodEat DuckYou are now in the Lot department, the heartland of duck cuisine. Confit de canard (duck leg slowly cooked in its own fat), magret de canard (pan-seared duck breast), foie gras, and gizzard salad (salade de gesiers) appear on every menu. The local Cahors wine, made from the Malbec grape, is dark, rich, and the perfect partner for duck in all its forms. Figeac's restaurants serve these regional specialities well, and the quality-to-price ratio is excellent.

RelaxationTake a Rest DayFigeac is a natural rest day candidate. The museum, the old town, the Saturday market, and the restaurants all justify a day off. The town also has good transport connections (train to Toulouse, bus to Cahors) if you need to adjust your schedule. After the remote stages through the Aubrac and the descent to the Lot valley, Figeac feels urban and civilised without being overwhelming. A day of wandering, eating, and resting here sets you up well for the stages ahead.

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Places to stay in Figeac

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Services available

RestaurantCafeGroceryPharmacyATMTrainPost OfficeBusClinicWaterTobacconistAccommodationAirportPilgrim Office

About Figeac

Pilgrims will find gites, hotels, restaurants, cafes, supermarkets, ATMs, pharmacies, and a train station. The Saturday market is lively and the old town is well worth exploring.