route from St Cirq lapopie to Figeac
 

What is the nicer...more scenic...route from St Cirq to Figeac. Would you go the lower route through Cajarc or the upper route? Thanks

Hi cp,

I have chosen the route via Cabrerets and the Grotte du Peche Merle along the Célé.

OTOH, if you're not interested in Peche Merle, I am told the the Lot is a beautiful river.

Have you read "Three Rivers of France"?

((I))

I hope you enjoy the village as much as we. did. We stayed at the La Pelissaria. run by a couple who are so nice and entertaining. He, also chef, may play the piano for you.

I would like to see both rivers. I am driving from Villefrance de rouergue so I guess I could go from there to Cajarc and then from Cajarc to St.Cirq. I too want to see Peche Merle so then I could take the route along the Cele to go from there to Figeac. I haven't read Three Rivers... Is it good? I will have to look for it.

Three Rivers is now in paaperback and is a good read.

Very good book.

I am curious...what rivers does it tell about. Is it a travel novel? or what?

It's a travel, history and so much more. The three rivers are The Dordogne, The Lot and the Tarn.
The book enlightens you about the people, the history, the land and so much more, in these three areas. An excellant book to those who will travel there.

Yes, the Three Rivers of France is a beautiful book. I found it at the library, but after reading, really wanted to have my own. It was definitely not easy to find, but I finally found a used one on Amazon.. not cheap, I might add. At least, try to find at your library to read before your trip.

I looked on Barnes and Noble..even the used paperbacks are $40. I would love to see the book though.

cparris, I was at amazon tonight. There is a copy for $30.

Hi cp,

Go to http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchEntry

Copies as low as $5.00

((I))

Ira, Thanks thats a great site.

Hi CP:

I have driven along the D653 from Cahors to Figeac, a lovely drive of about 30 miles or so: about 45 mins driving time. Figeac is a lovely town on the banks of the Cele river. Be sure to walk around the old medieval core(there is a great restaurant: Cuisine du Marche-great food and very accomodating). And of course, be sure to see the replica of the Rosetta Stone, which was deciphered by Jean Francois Champollion, a native of Figeac. Stroll over to the river and nore than likely you'll find locals playing boules in front of the Church..

Ira: Thanks so much for the recommendation of a reasonable place to get the Three Rivers of France. A couple of weeks ago I couldn't find a moderately priced edition. Finally, I tried your source and found a paperback that with shipping from France will be under $14. I'm looking forward to reading this prior to our trip this September.

Sha, I'm glad you found an inexpensive copy. It's really a book to read if you journey into Dordogne.Lot.Tarn

Cigalechanta: how nice to have your response. I've enjoyed reading many of your suggestions. I look forward to receiving the book around June 1. Our trip is at the end of August.

thanks for your kind worda, sha, I'll toast you for we also will be in France at th end of August(22, we leave)

I just ordered the book via the abebooks.com site...many to choose from. The cost of mine was $14.91, including shipping from the UK.

Thanks............

cigalechanta: We arrive in France on Aug. 31 and get to the Dordogne/Lot area about 1 week later. Do you have any idea about usual weather conditions at that time? Previous to that we will be on the coast, Carcassonne and then on to Rocamadour. We will base in Sarlat. Any help on what typical (whatever that is) weather would be appreciated.

We've been in that area about 3 times in mid Sept. Last year closer to the Lot near Cordes, it was a little cold & drizzly a few days, but sunny on others, and sweater weather on some days. The year before near Sarlat, it was gorgeous almost the entire 2 weeks we were there. Needed sunscreen for a canoe trip down the Dordogne in mid Sept. In '00, it was hot & sunny for about the first 10 days in Sept, then cooled off a little but still nice. Don't recall any significant rain.

In the last week of June & the first week of July in '97 it was very cold and rained some almost every day - very little sun.

Plan for the worst & hope for the best.

Stu Dudley

Stu- many thanks. this gives us a heads!

We were in the Dordogne one year in August and that year is rained alot but another time , not a drop. This year we'll be there in early September.
I wish us both good weather.

Cigalechanta:

Where are you basing in the Dordogne? We're spending one night in Rocamadour and then continuing on to a small farm on the fringe of Sarlat-about 1km from the town.

We'll only be there for one night visiting a friend in Puy l'Eveque, two nights, two nights visiting another in the Loire where we'll stay at a ferme-Auberge, and on to Bonnes near Poitiers for five nights with friends, all after my Provence fix.
sha, Rocamadour has lovely views but approaching it is the best view to see it hanging on it's cliffs. Carcassone is another amazing sites on approach.
I'm at hotmail (if you'll be in Provence also.)

I've spent at least a month in the Dordogne just outside Sarlat for the past 13 years, and am often there at the end of July, but only twice in early August, including last year. Both times it was incredibly hot and humid - temperatures in the mid-90s and very high humidity during the day, with somewhat frequent thunderstorms.

In June and July, we've had all kinds of weather. You really can't predict it.

Be prepared for some major crowds in August, too.

Enjoy!

St.Cirq: great to hear from you. I've enjoyed and learned so much from your posts in recent months. What do you know about crowds and weather at the beginning-mid September?