Our Region

Our region is known as the Quercy , we are in the Department of the Lot within the Midi-Pyrénées region of South West France. The main rivers are the Dordogne, the Célé and the Lot itself.

The Quercy is a place where gastronomy means just what it says - the art of eating well, the area is one of the gastronomic centres of France, specialising in Foie Gras, confit de canard, goats cheese, truffles, walnuts, and of course wine.

The region is spectacularly beautiful with its numerous rivers, forests, limestone cliffs, caves, and plateaus. Its rich history encompasses such milestones as prehistoric man, the Hundred Years War, and the Second World War during which, the region was a centre of the Resistance. Many remnants of these historic periods remain and are well-preserved, including prehistoric cave drawings, huge castles and medieval walled bastions.

Our small village of Le Vigan is situated on the Rocamadour Chemin or Pilgrim Trail that leads from Le Pay-en-Velay in the Haute-Loire region of France to Santiago de Compostela in Northern Spain a distance of approx 1390 kms, and is one of the routes known as Les Chemins de Saint-Jacques de Compostela. In 1998, four of the major Chemins through France have been designated as World Heritage Sites by Unesco.

South West of France is the very heart and soul of French Rugby with 7 of the Top 14 clubs being based in the region, with the likes of Toulouse, Albi, Montauban and Brive, all within driving distance. Within the Lot most of the towns and villages have their own rugby teams which form an important part of the social life of the communities, and local teams such as Gourdon, Souillac, Cahors and Rocamadour all attract large crowds.

Other highlights of the region include many attractive towns with their pavement cafes, sophisticated shops and ancient quarters; the weekly markets; the small farms dotted with sheep and geese; and the rich variety of the cuisine.

There is a wide variety of recreational opportunities available such as canoeing, hiking, horse-riding, bicycling, swimming, fishing, potholing, golf and tennis. The country roads lend themselves to a quiet stroll or a bicycle ride, and one can hike along the Grande Randonne (France's Appalachian Trail) or canoe on the region's rivers. The Institut Geographique National publishes very detailed walking maps for each region which can be bought in local book stores.

The people of this area are descended from generations of rugged, determined farmers who had to reap a meagre living from rocky soil. They are fiercely proud of their independence which explains the strong role that they played in the Resistance. At the same time they are very warm and friendly. Although many of them do not speak English, they are very accustomed to dealing with English-speaking people. The English have been in this region since the time of Eleanor of Aquitaine.

Places to go, things to see