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Motorhoming In Lot Et Garonne
MOTORHOMING IN THE LOT ET GARONNE
One of the five departments of Aquitaine, the Lot et Garonne is to the east of the region. If you’ve been motorhoming in the Dordogne or motorhoming in the Gironde, it’s easy to continue your trip into the rolling valleys of the Lot where ‘green’ tourism is very popular.
Passing through the ancient and impressive Gate of Paris into the town of Villeneuve sur Lot, you will be delighted by this well preserved medieval town. Stroll through its narrow streets and covered passages and find yourself at La Place Lafayette surrounded by its 17th and 18th century half-timbered houses. You won’t be disappointed to find yourself there on a Tuesday or Saturday which are market days when the square is buzzing and takes on an entirely different aspect.
South of Villeneuve is the town of Agen, well known in France for its rugby team and its local speciality – prunes! They are produced all around the department but Agen is best known simply because it was the town which exported the prunes on its canal network. It has preserved its medieval quarters and its ancient chapel is one of the few examples of 12th century Dominican architecture left in France. You can take a stroll along the banks of the river Garonne which pass through the town gardens from where you can see the elegant and very long canal bridge which can be crossed on foot.
Heading west from Agen, stop off at Colayrac-Saint-Cirq where you can visit its botanic gardens. ‘Végétales Visions’ presents 650m² of greenhouses containing exotic flowers and plants, including carnivorous varieties! There are also themed gardens including children’s games and a gardening museum. Stop off in Buzet, protected by its 15th century château to sample the local wine.
If you need to stopover, find one of the Aires de Service in the Lot et Garonne before moving south to visit the fortified windmill of Barbaste. Built in the 13th century it was the property of Henry IV and is only a windmill by name. Curiously it has four towers all of different dimensions. Legend has it that the miller who had it built had four daughters of different size! It was built on the banks of the river Gélise in order to protect its superb 13th century bridge which has ten arches.
As well as its prunes you’ll be able to sample local specialities such as duck comfit, goat’s milk cheese and Armagnac. So if you’re thinking of hiring a motorhome in England and want to know how to cross the channel, or you’re hiring a motorhome in France, find all the information you need on motorhome travel in France.
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