bowserjoe

Hi- we have 2 weeks in and around Nimes and SW France beginning the last week of September. Is Figeac a good base to spend a few days? I see from comments on this forum that many like this town.Is it a good base for visiting Rocamadour and St.Cirq and Pech Merle? I've looked at viamichelin and seems it would be fine but not sure if the driving times are always accurate. Are ther other"must see" historical sites/villages to warrant a few days there? Or would you suggest otherwise? We will spend our last 5 nights in Sarlat. Thank you.

Sue4

I stayed in Figeac for the last 2 nights of my trip last May. It was fine for Pech Merle (don't miss it!) and St. Cirq (I only observed it from the parking lot - enough for me). I stayed in a Best Western in Figeac, which was just OK. For some reason I didn't like Figeac as much as some others on this board do. But it is a good base for those sites and the Lot Valley. You could go by Rocamadour on your way north to Sarlat. Also, if you stay in Figeac you might want to see Cahors also.

You will love the Sarlat area - so beautiful and much to see. I stayed at a Best Western in Sarlat, and liked it. However, be aware that there is lots of traffic in Sarlat, and driving in and out can be a little time-consuming, maybe not in Sept., though. I think next time I would stay on the river in Beynac or La Roche Gageac.

ira

Hi B,

Figeac is a good base for what you are planning.

Also consider a daytrip to Conques and the Gouffre de Padirac. The valley of the Cele is also very pretty.

Carlux

We like Figeac because it is not yet completely restored - although the archtitecture is different, one has a sense of what Sarlat was like before the very complete restoration there. But since we live here and go to Sarlat several times a week, we don't have the same viewpoint as someone coming for the first time. That said, for what you want to do, it is a good base. You could of course see those places while based in Sarlat.

StCirq

I love Figeac, and it's indeed a nice contrast to Sarlat. In addition to the places you mention, you could visit Martel and Collonges-la-Rouge.

Check the tour times at Pech-Merle - they were fairly limited last time I was there. And while St-Cirq-Lapopie holds little interest for me, I do love tooling around all the little D roads around it - some really remote little hamlets up there in those hills...

annhig

I would agree about not missing the gouffre de padirac - one of the best sites in the area. We stayed in Sarlat for a week and did all the prehistoric sites, plus the ones you mention, so you should have no problem, especially in September, when the traffic is lighter.

bowserjoe

Thanks for taking the time to respond. Am I understanding correctly that we could base ourselves in Sarlat for, say, 10 days and visit Rocamadour, St. Cirq-la-popie, Figeac, Martel on day trips from Sarlat. I thought St. Cirq was a 2 1/2 hour drive one way. Am I wrong? It certainly would be convenient staying in one place but given that many of the posts I've read show people with multiple bases, I thought this was necessary.

ira

Hi B,

St Cirq la Popie is about 1:30 from Sarlat by the direct route.

See www.viamichelin.com.

You could also base in Beynac, LaRoque Gageac or Vezac.

You might find might trip report useful.

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34676645

Photos at http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...&y=-pla2au