The Lot is a limestone area in SW France, south of the Dordogne region and about four hours north of the Pyrenees and the Spanish border. The cottage is just outside the little hamlet of La Masse, 25kms west of Cahors. The river Lot is two kms away.

 

Walking...the whole area is criss crossed with walks; from your door you can be in the hills behind within minutes where there are tracks and paths which can take you for miles up and down little valleys and through oak woods, leading down into vineyards and beyond. We are lucky to have a rich and varied fauna and flora; while out walking you may be lucky enough to come across wild boar, roe deer, red deer, red squirrel, pine martin and as evening descends maybe a badger or two...! We have numerous migratory birds who fly up from Africa and spend the summer months here - these include red and black kites, nightingales, various little warblers, and the nightjar which you can hear on summers evenings making its strange 'churring' call close by...And of course we mustn't forget the cicadas on a hot summer's day with their incessant rasping call! In the spring the hills are carpeted with orchids, there are many different varieties and they continue flowering until early summer - a strange and beautiful flower!...You may enjoy a leisurely evening stroll down into the hamlet and a visit to the tiny little church with its wonderful C15 frescoes of the seven deadly sins and then a wander along the valley to Les Junies, a little village a km away where we have our local fete and various meals throughout the year.

 

For those who like to cycle, there are cycle paths that follow the Lot river with maps available from the local tourist offices; when the heat steps up in summer, you can cool off by going for a swim in one of the beautiful rivers (The Lot is merely 2 km away) or lakes in the area. Canoeing, boat trips and fishing are all also on your doorstep. 

 

During the summer months the area is alive with things to do or see - there are local fetes in almost every village, which usually involve a meal, amusements for the children, and of course music which can vary greatly from a local rock band to old fashioned "musette'' with the accordian...There are also classical concerts, music, theatre events and art exhibitions etc to enjoy. 

 

Not far away in the tiny little hamlet of Les Arques there is the Zadkine museum - Ossip Zadkine was born in Russia, and was a renowned sculptor, working here for many years and producing some wonderful works. In Cahors there is the Henri Martin museum, which has interesting exhibitions throughout the year. Henri Martin was a Post Impressionist and lived in the nearby village of Labastide du Vert for most of his life.

 

If you are interested in prehistory the Lot boasts more than 500 dolmens, megalithic tombs dating back to around 2000BC and a dozen or so menhirs, making this area one of the most important in France and second only to Brittany. There are three dolmens on the hill behind, a 15 mins walk away! Being a limestone area it also has some magnificent caves including Pech Merle and Padirac, some with stunning paintings over 20,000 years old; a number of these can be visited and are truly unforgetable.

 

Besides wonderful country the Lot has many beautiful little villages - some very famous -  Rocamadour, St Cirq Lapopie and Carennac - and others tucked away in little hidden valleys or perched on top of the hills over looking a river or stream; the old buildings are of limestone and the colour is soft and gentle and the architecture sublime.

 

The local Cahors wine is famous for its full body and distinctive flavour;  you can while away a pleasant hour or two visiting any of the numerous vineyards in the area to taste and buy some of this delicious wine, discovering some lovely countryside at the same time!