Saint-Cirq-Lapodie (Quack, quack)

Our final call of this short break was to yet another perched village in the French top 100 most beautiful villages. The ancient chateau of Saint Cirq was the home of the Pompéjac family and was owned by the 7th century bishop of Cahors, St Didier. By the 13th century, the site was strategically important and there were three castles close together overlooking the valley. The castles were destroyed by the King after the English got into the castles 3 times in the Hundred Years' War. 

As with so many places that we visit, it is on a route to St Jacques de Compostella in Spain. 

We left our hotel after an early breakfast then followed a scenic route to Saint Cirque, following the Célé river and then the Lot. 

Salian sur Célé:

Tour de Faure on the river Lot 

Saint-Cirq from the bus. The ancient ruins are on the left. 

After a brief commentary, we all went our separate ways to see the village. Some of us climbed to the highest point - the site of the ancient chateau. 

There is little to see at the top other than the views over they town and the valley. 

The church was built in the 16th century and includes a Romanesque chapel.

Views over the valley and in the streets

We had lunch at this restaurant before our journey home - needless to say, we had duck. 

Then we rejoined the bus for a four hour drive home, some of which was in the rain, so we were lucky to have had a sunny morning.