Tourism Lot: the treasures of Florent
The Lot, the Dordogne and the Lot-et-Garonne are full of magnificent sites such as Saint-Cyr-Lapopie, Sarlat, Rocamadour or Padirac, but what a pleasure it is to be able to discover a few lesser-known but equally wonderful places.
Florent offers you a few treasures to liven up your holidays with the unusual, the new, the more discreet but just as charming places.
He also keeps a few in his bag of tricks, which he may reveal to you if you are good and ask him nicely! Welcome to a nature holiday at our family campsite in the Lot.
Magic walk at the blue spring
A natural splendour that will enchant you. La Source Bleue, as its name suggests, is a translucent blue water source from an outflow of the nearby Lot river. It is in the middle of nature and quite heavenly. A marvel to see absolutely. You can go there on foot or by bike, it is 4 km from the campsite by a country road and the nearby greenway. To continue the unusual exploration, you can admire the remarkable old suspension bridge of Touzac and the dam located just below: magnificent! To finish on a refreshing note, there is a small secret beach nearby for a dip in the Lot. Perfect for a romantic weekend.
Colourful walk at the Château de Stelsia / Penne-d’Agennais
Castle Le Stelsia
You will be surprised to discover a brightly painted castle! The exuberance doesn’t stop there, you can stroll through the magnificent park of the castle decorated with the largest wood sculpture in Europe but also with boxwoods sculpted in the shape of animals (giraffe, frog, etc…) at real size! And then… A carousel for the little ones, fun games for children, a bucolic pond with water lilies… All of this is freely accessible! Stesia Castle also offers you the largest mini golf course in Europe in the sumptuous setting of the castle gardens… Extra! (mini golf for a fee). A complete restaurant and bar service is also available to relax and enjoy yourself.
Village of Penne-d’Agenais
For a more natural tone of colour, you can continue your day with a visit to the nearby medieval town of Penne-d’Agenais, whose castle was fortified by Richard the Lionheart. You will discover a typical stone village with its charming sloping streets lined with pretty houses and the magnificent basilica of Notre Dame de Peyragude, a building of Romanesque-Byzantine style recognisable from afar by its silver dome. On the Place Paul Froment, you can sip a drink and enjoy the gentle pace of life in this charming village and discover some exciting arts and crafts workshops.
From the orientation table next to the basilica, you can enjoy a superb view of the Lot Valley!
A “Recreation” in the village of Les Arques
Situated on a limestone promontory, winding through azure blue, the tiny village of Les Arques offers the visitor a horizon of wooded hills. You can discover the typical architecture of the Lot and also the sculpted works of Ossip Zadkine in the open air and in the museum dedicated to him. The internationally renowned Association Les Ateliers also offers you the opportunity to discover the work of contemporary artists in residence each summer.
Further down, an atypical restaurant, located in the former village school, with a fitting name: La Récréation. The former schoolyard has become the restaurant’s terrace! A complete change of scenery !
Heritage and delicacies getaway in Lot-et-Garonne
A native of the department, Florent invites you to discover the picturesque sites and delicacies of his native land!
Le temple-sur-Lot
The pretty village of Le Temple-sur-Lot grew up around the Templar Commandery, a monumental bastide built in the 13th century. You will find a good restaurant of the same name: “La Commanderie” with a menu of local cuisine in front of the fireplace or on the terrace by the ponds in summer.
Also worth seeing is Latour-Marliac, a 2.5 hectare water lily park to visit, as well as a museum, an exotic greenhouse, a bamboo grove and a pond with a Japanese bridge. It will also be possible to eat and buy plants on site.
Montpezat d’Agenais
A small authentic village with a magnificent restored windmill which sometimes hosts exhibitions. The area around the windmill is beautifully landscaped and has a playground for children and picnic tables. Other interesting heritage buildings to discover are the school and the church of Saint-Jean-de-Balerme.
And two gourmet escapes…
The Hazelnut House in Lacépède
An escapade dear to Florent’s heart as he grew up in Lapécède!
At the hazelnut museum, Claude, Régine and Augustin, the producers and transformers of hazelnuts picked on their hillsides, will welcome you. They will guide you through a splendid educational and fun discovery area to reveal all the secrets of this small nut.
The hazelnut house is located in an old stone barn, surrounded by exceptional nature. A number of hiking trails can be discovered from the farm, in particular the magnificent walk around the bird sanctuary of the Salabert lake.
Farm products: Taste the hazelnut in its various forms: oil, flour, mustard, spreadable cream, praline sweets and other specialities !
The Prune Museum and its Labyrinth
Located in Laffitte sur Lot, come and discover the history of the Agen prune and taste the black gold of Lot-et-Garonne!
Visit the farm, the orchards and the museum retracing the history of the Agen prune for 150 years with, in particular, an exhibition of old tools and the production of the Ente prune.
The Pruneau Museum also offers a fun and educational tour of the prune in the form of a quiz for young and old. And, to have a good time with the family, there is a treasure hunt in a giant outdoor maze in the magical setting of a large corn field.
At the end of the tour, the museum shop offers a range of products based on the prune, a fruit that is excellent for your health!
Laparade orientation table
An orientation table allows you to admire a breathtaking 180° panorama of the Lot Valley.
To start the day or end your walk in beauty in the Lot et Garonne, take a step up and discover the Laparade orientation table with a breathtaking 180° view over the entire Lot Valley and as far as the Pyrenees.
Photos credits : OT Lot, Tourisme Lot-et-Garonne, Wikimedia, MLauba, Mossot, château Le Stelsia, Clément Eustache, Musée de la Noisette