Sports

For the more active there are a range of sports available including golf, tennis, riding, fishing and walking. For lovers of rugby, this region is the heart of French rugby and there is no shortage of quality matches to attend. Boating enthusiasts will find that the local rivers and canals provide plenty of scope to pursue their interests.

Local Beaches and Swimming

Just outside Montcuq there is a swimming pool. A little further up the road there is a plan d'eau with sandy beach, café and playground.
Take the D43 south east from Bourg de Visa towards Fauroux and Rikiki Plage, one of the prettiest places to swim in the area.
At Montaigu-de-Quercy there is a huge, artificial lake with a sandy beach, mini-golf, pontoons and pedallos.

Chateau de Biron

Visible from Monflanquin and Villeréal, the Chateau de Biron is the largest of all Périgord's castles. The castle was held by the same family from 1189 until the early 20th century. Guided tours daily Tuesday - Sunday; closed Mondays and January.

Chateau de Bonaguil (near Fumel)

In the 18th century, this magnificent, prow-shaped castle was sold for 100 Francs and a bag of walnuts. There are guided tours in summer, but the castle is easy to explore on your own. In summer, plays are put on in the castle grounds and it is lit up until midnight. Two cafés below the castle put on reliable meals.

Cathar castles

During the 11th and 12th centuries, the Cathar religion was a quest for Christian perfection. Cathar country is a vast lowland crescent ringed to the south by the Pyrénnées. Take a weekend to visit these ruined fortresses, perched high on rock pinnacles. Castles include those at Foix, Montségur, Peyrepertuse, Quéribus, and finally the magnificent Carcassonne.

Bastide Towns

Visit the bastide towns of Quercy - perched on the tops of hills, surrounded by farmland and hamlets, they are recognisable by their half-timbered houses and colonnaded squares. Some bastides, such as Montjoi, developed around a church, but most, such as Lauzerte, Castelsagrat, Tournon d'Agennais, Cordes and Montauban (capital of Tarn-et-Garonne), developed around the castle.
All the bastide towns are within one hour of Montcuq.

Caves

Gouffre de Padirac. For centuries, this chasm, which plunges 100 metres through the limestone, was regarded as the entrance to hell. Take a gondola across the underground Rivière Plane to see the spectacular Salle du Grand Dome - the size of two Notre-Dame Cathedrals. There are huge stalactites, and tools dating from around 50,000 BC.
Pech Merle - 4 km from Cabrerets. The finest painted prehistoric cave still open to the public. Numerous drawings of humans, animals such as mammoths, bison, horses and bears, and symbols such as hand outlines and circles. There are also two sets of footprints dating from around 12,000 years ago.

St Cirq Lapopie

The prettiest medieval village in Quercy is perched spectacularly on sheer cliffs overlooking the River Lot.

Carcassonne

Open all year; regular tours in French and English. From ancient Gaul until the 19th century, Carcassonne was at the very centre of history. Now, on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Carcassonne is a regional capital and tourist attraction. Stay in the old city itself, where there are hotels and pensions to suit every pocket. On 14 July the city has exceptional firework displays, including the "blazing city". August has night shows, jousts and other manifestations. The city often hosts plays and operas within the castle.