Historic province of Quercy
The Quercy region is so attractive that it might make you forget about the Loire Valley! But don’t forget this superb valley, because you would be missing out on one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in France!
To return to Quercy, think of the Lot river and its lush and fertile valley, a true mosaic of orchards, tobacco and cereal fields, meadows and poplar groves.
This historical province became an integral part of the Kingdom of France in the 15th century. It extends over the current department of Lot and the northern part of Tarn-et-Garonne, and is now part of the Occitanie region.
The main towns are Cahors and Montauban, respectively the capitals of Lot and Tarn-et-Garonne, and Figeac, the birthplace of Champollion.
The region is divided into two natural regions: Haut-Quercy or Causses (Upper) and Bas-Quercy (Lower).
Causses de Quercy
Haut-Quercy, in the north, is an arid plateau bordering the Auvergne massif, in central France.
The Lot and Dordogne rivers have sculpted the limestone cliffs, creating a vast network of underground galleries. Our distant ancestors transformed these natural shelters into dwellings and sacred places, adorning their walls with paintings depicting the animals they hunted. The rivers have also carved deep underground galleries, forming immense caves with spectacular rock formations.
The fertile valleys are devoted to mixed agriculture, producing strawberries, nuts, fruits, cereals and tobacco, while their hillsides are covered with vines. The western part, less fertile, is home to cork oaks, walnut trees, chestnut trees, pine forests and heathland. Gourdon is the main town in this region.
From north to south, the Haut-Quercy is characterised by four large limestone plateaus or Causses:
The Causses de Martel, the Causse de Gramat, the Causse de Cajarc and the Causse de Limogne. The Occitan word “Causse” derives from the Latin “Cax“, which means limestone.
- The Causse de Martel is the most fertile of the four. Its valleys, or dry valleys, are dedicated to crops. Sheep farming for wool and meat is practised on the poorest lands, where the animals can easily graze on short grass. The town of Martel is thus renowned for its sheep leather industry.
- The Causse de Gramat is home to remarkable sites such as the Padirac Chasm, the Rocamadour pilgrimage centre, and the bastide town of Labastide-Murat. This striated 300-metre-high limestone plateau boasts spectacular canyons, caves and ravines.
- The Causse de Cajarc is a lower plateau, with gentle hills carved by the Célé and Lot rivers. Their fertile valleys form a checkerboard of cultivated fields, bordered by the meanders of the rivers.
- The Causse de Limogne, located to the south near Montauban, is crossed by the Aveyron. Numerous megaliths bear witness to an ancient occupation. The region is primarily dedicated to sheep farming. The gariottes, shepherds’ huts, dot the landscape, amidst fields of lavender, juniper trees and oak trees.
Bas-Quercy or Quercy Blanc
Bas-Quercy, to the south, enjoys a milder climate and offers a pleasant landscape of white limestone plateaus, called planhes. These plateaus are interspersed with gentle, elongated, narrow hills, or serres, and fertile valleys.
Located between the Lot and the Aveyron, this region of serres is home to the towns of Montcuq, Castelnau-Montratier and Montpezat, built on steep rocky promontories, or puechs.
The southwestern part of the region is called Quercy Blanc (White).
The Bas-Quercy region is primarily dedicated to mixed agriculture. Cereals are grown on the plateaus, while vines thrive on the hillsides.
Tobacco, fruits and vegetables thrive in the fertile soils of the valleys. The Lot Valley, in particular, offers a picturesque mosaic of orchards, tobacco and cereal fields, meadows and poplar groves.
The land of bastides
Quercy is known for its fortified towns or bastides and castles perched on the hills during the Hundred Years’ War. But that’s ancient history!
The regional architecture is among the most prized in France! Built from local cream-colored limestone, the houses often feature roofs of round terracotta Roman tiles. These residences vary in size, many featuring magnificent square towers.
However, what truly distinguishes the region architecturally is its dovecotes. Unlike those in Périgord, which belonged to local lords, the dovecotes of Quercy were the property of farmers. They used the valuable pigeon droppings as fertiliser, making these structures an essential part of regional agricultural life.
Quercy is a peaceful and serene region, ideal for relaxing, canoeing on the Lot river or tasting its renowned wines. With low industrialisation and urbanisation, it maintains a low population density, with the only notable fluctuations being due to the increase in the number of tourists.
Department of Lot
Coordinates: Lat 44.447523 – Long 1.441989
