Situated in the Lot, the Cahors base is above all a family affair. Love of the region – and helping people to discover it – lies at the heart of this family business, which has specialised in boating for 3 generations. It is now managed by Sylvain and his sister Alice, who recently took over from their father Jean-Jacques.
There’s lots to do and discover here, from vineyards and heritage to nature and swimming. The town of Cahors is designated a “Town of Art and History” and there are some lovely tour programmes on offer.
Set off from the Cahors base with your family or friends to explore the Lot valley by barge and enjoy some wonderful days on the water!
3 questions for Alice, our ambassador in Cahors
What’s your favourite boating route?
On the Lot there is only one route: a round trip of 150 km which you can do over a week, sailing 4 to 5 hours per day. It’s the only route but what a journey! First you have a lower part, with vineyards and beautiful châteaux to see and wineries very close to the river, which gives you the chance to visit the wine estates. There’s also Cahors, a town full of history with its famous Valentré bridge and beautiful old town which is a real must-see. Then there’s the upper part towards Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, a magical section through the meanders of the river. You’ll discover wild landscapes, superb cliffs topped by the Châteaux des Anglais, a tow path cut out of the cliff and of course Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, one of the most beautiful villages in France. The route doesn’t stop at Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, but continues for a few more kilometres and the end of the journey is also worth a look, with pretty villages such as Saint-Martin-Labouval, La Toulzanie, Cénevières and its château etc.
What’s special about the Lot is that it’s actually a river, which means there are many villages close by. Within 10 minutes you can be buying bread or looking round the village. Another feature is that the locks are manual and you can go through them on your rented boat whenever you like, at any time of day… but it’s a bit physically demanding (which helps to work off all that lovely regional produce you’ve eaten)!
What events are generally planned at the Cahors base?
The river festival in June and the summer festivals: the 14th July celebrations, etc.
Can you give us one good reason for choosing Cahors for a barge holiday?
Because of the Lot, the most beautiful navigable river! For the beauty of the landscapes, wildlife, flora, and of course the gastronomy: wine, foie gras, truffles, duck etc. And also for all the events around Cahors: The ‘Cahors Juin Jardins’ art festival, the ‘Visages du Monde’ music festival, the ‘Lot of Saveurs’ food festival, the Cahors Blues Festival and the Valentré Bridge illuminations.
