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 31st July 2010
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 Things to do in the LotListing of activities available in the region The river Lot is a great attraction for many people, and water-based activities are very popular in summer – canoeing, boat trips and fishing. This sparsely populated area also has some fantastic walks and mountain bike trails where it is possible to travel for miles without seeing another person. The local tourist information office will be able to provide more details.This article covers the Lot department, for the other departments in the Lot and Quercy region, try: Activities in the Lot et Garonne Activities in the Tarn et Garonne Canoeing Canoes can be hired by the hour for exploring the Lot river at your leisure. Alternatively, you can be transported up river and take your time drifting back downstream with the current. There are many places to hire canoes and all are well signposted in summer as they try to attract holidaymakers. Some of the bigger operators are based in Cahors, Fumel and Caix near Luzech. Don’t plan to travel far at your first attempt. Although the river is slow flowing in summer, 2 km per hour is a reasonable estimate, more if you’re fit and a lot less with children. A few basic safety rules to remember: you must be able to swim, wear a life jacket, which is in good condition and properly fastened (complying with EC norms), and don’t take along a child who can’t swim. Equipment will be provided by the hirer and they will explain how to use it. For more information contact: Comité Départemental de Canoë-kayak Bureau 218 – Espace Associatif Place Bessières – 46000 CAHORS Telephone: 0565 35 91 59  Swimming lakes (Plan d'eau)
There are many swimming lakes to choose from and most have facilities for safe bathing, watersports, fishing as well as the ubiquitous boules court and picnic area. These lakes are more common in the North of the department rather than by the river valley in the South. They are usually well signposted from nearby villages and the local tourist office will be able to point out the nearest one and explain the facilities it offers. Bateaux-promenade In Cahors, boat trips along the river Lot are readily available. These can be combined with a trip on the "Touristique Quercyrail" to make a full day outing, including lunch. One of the available itineraries even includes a visit to a well-known local vineyard with wine tasting. It is also possible to hire motorboats in Cahors for a less strenuous way of exploring the river. A cruise down the 64km navigable stretch of the Lot river takes you through a varied landscape – from vineyards and chateaux to medieval Cahors with its Valentré Bridge, and upstream towards the stone-village of St-Cirq-Lapopie, perched high-up between towering cliffs. The boating season begins at the start of April and ends mid November. Boats are normally hired out by the week, although weekend hire may also be possible.  Fishing
The river Lot is renowned for its fishing potential, especially for carp and black bass. There are specific sectors allocated to night fishing for carp and many large specimens have been caught. A fishing licence is required, but these are readily obtained and cater for the holiday angler. "La Carte Vacances" allows 15 days of fishing in between June and November (€28 for 2005). Junior licences (under 16) are also available, at €24 for 2005. Fishing is also permitted in many of the swimming lakes, usually in a defined area so as not to interfere with bathers and other water sport activities. Trout, carnivorous fish, carp, whitefish and migratory fish are all to be found in the Lot, in fact there are officially 20 varieties of fish to be caught. In addition, there are some foreign invaders in the shape of American crayfish (which must be killed on the spot), but as they are excellent eating this causes little concern to the French angler. The native crayfish is a protected species.  Walking
It is no surprise that this part of the Lot is a walker’s paradise. There are so many different terrains, all of them delightful. It’s a splendid feeling to be walking along the edge of a vineyard laden with grapes gently cooking in the sun, turn to walk through a short wood of dense oak and find yourself suddenly on the edge of a steep valley with an ancient stone church on one side and a ruined "gariotte" on the other. It happens all the time. There are hundreds of trails around the area, some of which have great religious significance as Montcuq is on the famed pilgrim trail to Santiago de Compostela. From the 9th century and throughout the Middle Ages, the Santiago de Compostela pilgrim trail to the shrine of Saint James in Galicia, northwest Spain, was an essential walk. Take one of the four ancient French routes, the Via Podiensis (Officially known as the GR65), which crosses regions close to the Lot Valley, such as the uplands of the Gévaudan and Rouergue, and the fertile plains of the Quercy and Agenais. The best-known stretch in the Lot runs from the plateaux of Aubrac to the city of Cahors. Quad Bikes Many of the country trails are large enough for a quad bike to navigate and some of the locals use them to get around their land. Quad bikes can be hired locally in Frayssinet-le-Gelat and guided tours through the countryside are also available. Cycling (VTC) and Mountain Biking (VTT) Bikes for road or trail can be hired locally, or of course, you can bring your own. The local tourist office will be able to sell you a guide for a few euros containing maps showing the walking and mountain biking routes in the area (Guide de la Randonnee). The trails are usually clearly marked with coloured arrows and the guides show the route in detail and describe notable sights to look out for on the way.  Horse Riding
As a whole, the Lot region has over 1,500 km of bridleways and more than 25 equestrian centres most of which are open throughout the year. The local tourist office will be able to give you details of your nearest centre. Adventure Parks At Pradines near Cahors there is an adventure park set in a wooded valley, which allows visitors to climb rope ladders, abseil and cross aerial walkways. Suitable for children of 3 and above it will appeal to all those budding Tarzans. Near Rocamadour is a prehistoric adventure park, the largest of its kind in Europe. Website: www.prehistologia.com And near Gramat is an animal park, with over 1,000 animals (2005 entry €7.5 adult, €4.5 children, free parking and picnic area). Website: www.gramat-parc-animalier.com . Parascending, Parachuting, Hang Gliding For the more adventurous there is a small aerodrome at Lalbenque, South of Cahors that is the local base for these activities. There is a Paragliding club based in Douelle. Enjoy the pleasure of gliding above the countryside, sometimes for hours, just with a piece or canvas above your head. The club VOL LIBRE CADURCIEN, is 27 years old and has about 100 enthusiast pilots and supporters of all ages. Weather permitting the club never misses an opportunity to fly and get together. Anyone is welcomed to join us (30€/year). Not only will you be able to fly but also to meet new people in a different environment. Website: www.vol-libre-cadurcien.net/ Golf Golf des Roucous Sauveterre 46170 CASTELNAU MONTRATIER Telephone: 05 65 95 83 70 Email: contact@golfdesroucous.com Website: www.golfdesroucous.com Soulliac Country Club 46200 LACHAPELLE AUZAC Telephone: 05 65 27 56 00 Email: golf@souillac-countryclub.com Website: www.souillaccountryclub.com Golf le Poujols 46340 SALVIAC Telephone: 05 65 41 57 34 Email: golf@lepoujols.com Website: www.lepoujols.com Golf de Montal 46400 ST CERE Telephone: 05 65 10 83 09 Email: golf-montal@wanadoo.fr © Colin Lawrence Holidays and Leisure Home Page |
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