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Sign in with FacebookLatest Cahors hotel reviews
Pro
Interesting history... great old buildings
Con
Quintessentially French
In a nutshell
A Way to Relax While Sightseeing
Gyppo Says: A stunning bridge in Cahors. This is a 'Devil's Bridge', legend being that the Devil was tricked into helping build it. The photos were taken using my sunglasses as a filter for maximum pretentiousness. Despite that, it's a must-see for bridge fans.
Look at the Town's Old Buildings
hquittner Says: If you are staying you will have time to take a look at the old secular buildings in town. The finest on is behind the Cathedral down at the river. Here is the+mansion the Hotel de Roaldes built at the end of the 15C. It is half-timber and brick and has an upstairs gallery...
St.-Etienne: The Remaining Interior Details
hquittner Says: There is little left to study in the church. In the Apse are some fine 14C Stained Glass windows. The chancel is covered with murals and is totally painted. It is an attempt to simulate the medieval pilgrimage appearance (we think), but did not impress us. There were two...
St.-Etienne: View the Different Interior Structure
hquittner Says: Since the church was initially Romanesque it is surprising to find that it is tall, wide and adequately lit. It is without aisles, but tall chapels were let in the walls later. Instead of using a potentially combustible flat wood roof cover, the nave is vaulted by two large...
St.-Etienne: Go in the Cloister of the Church
hquittner Says: The cloister was added to the Abbey complex in the beginning of the 16C. It is Flamboyant Gothic. When we visited, it had been long neglectedand restoration had just begun. The arches, doorways, ribbing and bosses will all look more handsome when finished
Everybody Stops to See the Pont Valentre
hquittner Says: The medieval bridge is the identifier of Cahors. It was started in 1308. It has three defensive towers. The outer towers had barbicans and porticulises and the central tower was a sort of keep. Its spans have enormous sturdy piers sunk into the river. It has never been taken...
St.-Etienne: See the North Facade, Door & Porch
hquittner Says: St. Stephens' Cathedral was built over much of the 12C. It undoubtedly received some of the mason-carvers from Moissac (See Our Tips there), since it was on the Pilgrimage Route after Conques (again see Tips). This is manifest in the North Door which was installed in the...
St.-Etienne: Look at the Other Three Sides of the
hquittner Says: The South Door of the Cathedral was finished in 1119 and has a trilobed shape, almost Oriental in feel, made of brick and stone. The late Renaissance arcading above in similar materials harmonizes nicely (almost Venetian). The West Front (14C) is built of 3 fused towers with...
St.-Etienne: Study the Tympanum
hquittner Says: The tympanum is dated 1135, making it one of the first ones extant (See our Moissac Tips in this Region, for the first one anywhere dated "before 1115"). This one is an Ascension and features a standing Christ in an almond-shaped mandorla with Angels at each side. Above his...
Intrepidduck Says: The main reason to visit Cahors is to see this beautiful bridge. Interesting to note that the GR65 - Chemin St Jarques (Camino de Santiago de Compostela) passes over this wonderful medieval structure. At night the bridge is floodlight further illustrating its appeal.
alisonr Says: It is certainly worth your while to go to the bridge. It is so medieval and gives you a real sense what it was like back then, trying to defend your village. The views you get down the river are also beautiful!
Devil's Bridge? Pont de Valentré
Kettleman Says: The Valentre Bridge, which is the symbol of the town, was begun in 1308 and completed in 1378. A legend holds that the architect had a pact with the devil to help complete it. When the bridge was restored in 1879, the architect Paul Gout made reference to this by placing a...
Intrepidduck Says: Every Saturday morning the Cathedral Square fills with the produce of the region. Whever it be goat's cheese from Rocamadour, sage grown on the towns outskirts or donkey meat sausage the farmers market has it all to please your culinary desires. Prices are reasonable and...
1 Review and 39 Opinions We stayed at this modest hotel locatedup a hill just beyond the train station (Gare). It was only a...
18 Opinions
Le Mephisto: Le Mephisto, Cahors
Gyppo Says: Simple food, at a good price, done well. The owner is very friendly - seeing my friend's amnesty top, he gave us free drinks. When he offered us the meat laden day menu, and I explained that I didn't eat meat or fish, he tore off some paper from his pad, 'Voici, votre...
hquittner Says: This is a rated Michelin restaurant especially recommended for its local fare. As would be expected in a superior restaurant the staff, the presentation and the chef are exceptional. When we were here the value of the dollar was at its peak and at dinner we ate and drank...
hquittner Says: There is an extended area from the Halles past the West Front of the Cathedral tha is the site of the large weekly Saturday market. Everybody seems to have been there even though it was raining. The primary items are produce and other foodstuffs but there are all the other...
Do Not Know: Local Wines and Delicacies
hquittner Says: This shop is located near the Pont Valentre. There has been another Tip on it without giving a name. We thought it was "sponsored" to showcase local wines and food products but are not sure. They had a complete selection of the fine Cahors red wines. We bought cans of foie...
One of the defects of my ancient education is being able to speak (but not hear) French. In a town market-place I will be quickly recognized as an elderly American (British?) and be harangued by an equally elderly retired Frenchman. I will understand almost nothing that he says and there is no polite escape. It is not even good training for my deficient language-ear.
Written Apr 20, 2008
Just beyond the Pont Valentre and across the road is the Pilgrims path (still used) which shoots up the cliff. Follow the route up, pausing to take a few pictures of the bridge from an unusual height and then carry on up if you have the stamina and walk a couple of hundred metres along the path at the top to a flat open meadow next to the cliff and a magnificent view of the town and beyond.
Written Sep 8, 2006
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Cahors is at the heart of rural France. It is also on the "Way" of the Trail St Jarques or what becomes the Camino de Santiago de Compostela in Spain. While I later on walked the Way of St James, in...
On the French Pilgrimage Road to Compostela
Cahors (pop. 21K) is a modest sized city nestled into a large peninsula projecting as a "U" bend of the Lot River as it runs into the lowlands before joining the Garonne. The peninsula is high, which...
This place was a lovely short stay, although I didn't see much of the town other than our hotel, the restaurant, bar and the beautiful old bridge. So this page will be short too!
Cahors is not a well known city by tourist standards - thank God. Its normality is contrasted by its dramatic setting - surrounded by the river which allowed it to thrive over the ages, the high...
One week in Cahors - southern France was not really what I expected but it was totally ok! Cahors is a small town with an old history of past..... a lot of old buildings and churches.... but also a...
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