The Quercy Blanc (White Quercy) lies to the south-west of Cahors, an ancient town nestled within a meander of the River Lot, and which boasts a noble history including its origins in Roman Gaul and its medieval importance as a financial centre for the Lombard bankers.
In 1332, pope John XXII, born in Cahors, founded a flourishing university in the town. Cahors was later the birthplace of Clément Marot and of Gambetta. Leaving Cahors southwards via the ValentréBridge, one of the handsomest fortified bridges in France, you will discover a landscape of rocky hillsides.
Beyond these hills lies a plateau of white rock-land scattered with withered oak-trees, and scarred by deep open valleys in which cultures of fruit-trees, grape-vines and arable cereals compete for the fertile soil. This is a bountiful land, with an air of Tuscany, and rich in truffles, fat geese, wines, chasselasgrapes, peaches, prunes, and melons. The hills and valleys are criss-crossed by quiet byways, leading to the ancient Santiago de Compostella pilgrims’ road through the villages of Montcuq et Lauzerte.
After a mere half-hour drive from Cahors, you will reach Le Vignet or La Borde-Basse. The two houses are connected by their grounds, even though one lies in the commune of Bouloc while the other is in the commune of Sainte-Juliette (82110).
http://www.sainte-juliette.fr
http://www.tourisme-montcuq.com
http://www.lauzerte-tourisme.fr