If I had to chhose between one or the other as an overnight (or 2) stop, which would you recommend?

They are both fantastic towns. If you do have 2 nights, I'd spend one in each.If I absolutely HAD to choose, I think I would opt for Figeac.

Just returned from Bordeaux-we stayed at Chateau Grand Barrail in Figeac. St Emilion just down the road was incredible. We stayed there for four days-doing the wine tours, Bordeaux city ect. I wish we had had more time in St Emilion. Hope this helps.

Hi vino,

Are you sure? I googled Chateau Grand Barrail and it keeps coming up in St. Emilion.

Ch. Grand Barrail is indeed in St. Emilion..the location is 4 km NW via the D243...perhaps that is the reason for the location descrepancy........

On our last night we had a wonderful private dinner for our wine company; fois gras poached in red wine puff pastry with sea bass, duck breast fillet with sweet roussillon wine creamy celeriac puree, assorted cheeses finishing off with chocolat et banane en mousse legere, sauce au pisang. served with Chateau de Chantegrive 2003 Graves and a Chateau Franc la Rose 1999, Saint Emilion Grand Cru. Anyway the point of all that is I saved the menu and it says Lamarzelle Figeac. So although I knew it was in St Emilion I thought it was also a part of Figeac. I'll have to get out my map- this was the first trip where we went on a type of "tour" all expenses paid. Usually it's me husband and kids trying to figure out a map!!

Jm, Figeac is NOWHERE near St-Emilion. I mean, you're talking 4-5 hours of driving between the two.I think vino has had too much vino.

I think that Chateau Grand Barrail is just outside of St Emilion close to the Chateau Figeac vineyard.

Sorry-thrown off by the back of our menu which said- Chateau Grand Barrail Lamarzelle Figeac. Anyways thank you StCirq for a wonderful suggestion in St Emilion- L'Enverse du Decor-I had a wonderful meal there. And of course lots of great wine!!!!

Thanks everyone.
Maybe you're right. Maybe I should try a night in each, but - in addition to the area between the two (St Cirq-Lapopie etc) I was hoping to explore a bit further south around St Antonin-Noble-Val, Pennes and Cordes as well. Or shouldn't I bother?

Add Najac to the list of places I hope to visit south of Figeac or Cahors.

I am not much of a St-Cirq-Lapopie fan, so 20 minutes there (walk up the hill, walk down) is enough for me. It's been done over to please tourists and not much else, so for the most part the shops are carrying Made in China souvenirs. The real charm of the place is the setting, which is indeed intriguing. Cordes-sur-Ciel is a bigger version of the same. What I love is the tiny towns in between. And Albi, I have a soft spot for Albi.