Rendez-vous at the Regional Natural Park of the Causses of Quercy

Built in 1999, the Regional Natural Park of the Causses of Quercy (345,000 acres) draws a wide central band from north to south of the Lot department.

Almost 29,000 people live in this regional national park which, in 2007, signed the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in protected areas.

A countryside shaped by water

From the Padirac Chasm up to the village Lalbenque, capital of the Quercy black truffle, discover landscapes shaped by water: the water of the Lot and Célé rivers flowing through the rocky limestone fissures of the causses.

On the surface, an array of cliffs, canyons and areas of short grass brightened up by woods of small oak-trees. Under your feet, chasms and resurgent streams share the underground world.

Visit ideas

It’s no wonder that this natural park is famous for water sports, climbing and caving.

Explore the 22 exceptional ecological sites of interest and 2 precious natural areas through various interpretive trails.

Discover the peasant architecture that expresses the art of building with dry stone, with no use of binder or mortar.

Character houses and pretty villages, low walls lining the paths, gariottes and cazelles (stone shepherds huts), fountains and wash houses, mills and grangettes: the age-old human footprint is everywhere.

Last but not least, visit 4 great sites of Midi-Pyrenees in this park:

• Rocamadour
• Saint-Cirq-Lapopie
• The Cave of Pech Merle
• The towns of Cahors and Figeac, located just outside the park.