Limogne-en-Quercy

The Place du Marche has a stone market hall (halle) that dates from the medieval period. The open-sided structure with its stone pillars and timber roof has sheltered weekly markets for centuries. On Sunday mornings, local producers sell cheese, honey, walnuts, bread, and seasonal vegetables here. During truffle season, the truffle market takes place under the halle and is a remarkable experience even if you are only watching.

The causse is one of the most distinctive landscapes on Le Chemin du Puy. The limestone plateau is dotted with ancient dolmens, stone crosses (croix de chemin), and dry stone shelters (cazelles) built by shepherds centuries ago. The path from Cajarc crosses this terrain, and the walking is meditative: flat, open, and rhythmic. Pay attention to the stone crosses along the way. Some are medieval, carved with simple pilgrim motifs. They are the oldest waymarks on the route.

The causses around Limogne have one of the highest concentrations of dolmens (Neolithic burial chambers) in France. These massive stone structures, built 4,000 to 5,000 years ago, sit in the fields and woodland around the village. Some are signposted, others require a short detour from the GR65. Walking past a dolmen on the causse, built thousands of years before the first pilgrim walked to Santiago, puts the Camino's age in perspective.

Limogne sits in the heart of the Quercy, and the food reflects the region's agricultural wealth. Try the cabecou (small goat's cheese, often served warm on salad), the duck products (confit, magret, rillettes), and the walnut cake (gateau aux noix). If you are walking in truffle season, Limogne is one of the best places on the route to taste fresh truffle. The restaurants are simple but the ingredients are exceptional.