Enclosed in the limestone and arid plateaux of Causses of Quercy, the City of Cahors is coiled in an isthmus formed by a meander of the Lot (800 m at the narrowest point). A natural privileged position, whose Cahors will take advantage to protect herself during the many disturbed times that known Quercy.
History:
Since 2000 years, Cahors is shepped in history and preserved many vestiges of culture.
In Gallo-Roman Times, Cahors, founded under the name of Divona, is a significant commercial and cultural crossroads at the the intersection of many roman roads. Roman bridge, foundations of the theatre, part of the aqueduct or gallo-roman baths, are the only visible remains from that era.
From the IVth to the XIIth , Cahors will be successively disturbed by a long period of "Barbarian" invasions (Vandal, Visigoth, Sarazin, Normand, English).
From the XIII th, Cahors enjoyed a period of unprecedented expansion, linked to the arrival of bankers from Lombardy and to the presence of merchants of international stature who will make city one of the principal money market of Christendom.
In 1308 the construction of the famous Valentré Bridge starts. It will only be achieved in the second half of the XIVth. Today, this outstanding example of mediaeval defensive architecture is inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage.
In 1314, a native of Cahors, Jacques Duèze, became Pope under the name of John XXII. He bringed a new impetus to the town. He gave Cahors a Charterhouse, called on Cahors wine producers to make the pontifical wine in Avignon and gave the city a University whose will compete with those of Toulouse turning Cahors into an intellectual centre.
After the Hundred Year's War - whose some military buildings are still visible today - the Renaissance will bring to Cahors an artistic (Clement Marot, Olivier de Magny, Hugues Salel, Fenelon) and architectural (cloister of the St. Stephen's Cathedral) revival in spite of the decline and the closing of the University in 1751.
In the XIX th, Cahors spreaded, took over the whole of the isthmus again : opening up and straightening of streets, construction of public buildings (law courts, town hall, theatre, library, station).
Today, without disavowing its history, Cahors remains a significant crossroads (aerodrome, motorway A20, SNCF)
Source : Cahors, Une jeune ville de 2000 ans de Alexandre Marciel
There is no lack of gourmet specialities in the Cahors region .We can quote for memory,
- The wines trail
- The truffle and its famous market of Lalbenque
- The walnut
- The duck and goose foie gras
- The Cabecou, goat's milk cheese
- The farm lamb of Quercy
- The pastis, a Quercynoise pastry ...
Situated on the Via Podiensis (Puy in Velay- Ronceveaux); between
the abbeys of Conques, Cordes and Moissac; a few leagues from Rocamadour, Cahors was, and
still remains, a significant stage on the route taken by pilgrims bound for
Compostella.
As far back as 1807, we can note, in the Cahors's archives, the developpment of hospitals, lodgings, neighbourhoods and churches to receive this pilgrims.
The Lot is renowned for Cahors of course,
Rocamadour, second site of France
Padirac and its famous natural cave,
Figeac, fatherland of Champollion,
Martel , medieval city with seven towers,
Carrenac and its splendid cloister,
Saint Laurent les Tours and the Lurçat 's museum
Saint Cirq Lapopie, most beautiful village of
France,
Souillac and its abbey with cupolas
Gourdon, Luzech...
But the department conceals no less renowned places offering a remarkable architecture, deep chasms and marvellous prehistoric caves, astonishing museums, paths and rivers... and so many others treasures which remain to be discovered.
