Camping Lot

Things to do when camping in Lot

With so much crammed into this compact department, from charming countryside to historic hamlets, you could say that there is a lot to do in Lot. Apologies for the pun. Lovers of all things outdoors will find a true connection with the lovely landscapes of Lot, which feature rolling plateaus filled with flowering fields, meandering rivers, subterranean splendours and majestic castles.

Boasting not only the scenic Lot River, the Dordogne also snakes its way through part of the department. Visitors to the rivers tend to explore the meanders by taking a pleasant kayaking trip downstream or by following the waymarked trails along the riverbanks.

Picturesque landscapes await walkers, hikers and cyclists in the Causses du Quercy Natural Regional Park, a protected area of natural beauty that is can also be explored on horseback. Pack a picnic and venture into the charming countryside of Lot, though dry grasslands, valleys and limestone plateaus.

In amongst the rural sprawl of the department, every so often you’ll stumble upon a quaint village or fairy tale towns. In Cahors, famed for its red wine, holidaymakers will be treated to wonderful tourist attractions at the Pont Valentré Bridge, Cahors Cathedral and Diana's Arch.

Rocamadour, a dramatic hilltop village, is home to the Église Saint-Sauveur de Rocamadour Basilica and Saint-Blaise. Children on a camping holiday in Lot will love a visit to Rocamadour, especially if they make time for a visit to Monkey Park, the Animal Park of Gramat Wildlife Park or Rocher des Aigles Bird Park.

Many of the department’s best attractions lie below the surface, in the dark depths of the underground! Featuring unique rock formations and prehistoric cave paintings, the Grottes préhistoriques de Cougnac Cave system is one such subterranean spectacle. At the Padirac Cave, a wondrous chasm lies beneath the ground where a river runs through, while at the Lacave cavern, visitors can explore the limestone caves by train.

As with so many regions in France, you’ll find plenty of striking castles and chateau in Lot. Whilst you are unlikely to have time to visit them all, we’d recommend that you see as many of them as you can. Our top picks are Château de Castelnau-Bretenoux, Chateau Cenevieres, the castle of Montal, Château de Larroque-Toirac, Château de Cabrerets and Castle Pannonia.

If you have yet to holiday in Midi-Pyrénées, or even the south of France and you have a real sense of adventure and curiosity, you’ll fall head over heels in love with Lot.