Lauzerte, Medieval hilltop commune in Tarn-et-Garonne, France
Lauzerte is a medieval hilltop commune in the Tarn-et-Garonne department of southern France. Its old town is made up of narrow stone streets, old houses with timber frames, and the remains of former ramparts.
In the 12th century, the count of Toulouse founded Lauzerte as a fortified stronghold on the hill. During the Hundred Years War, the town changed hands several times between English and French control.
The Place des Cornières at the heart of the village is surrounded by medieval stone houses with arcaded ground floors. On market days, people gather there to buy local products like Quercy melons and regional wines.
The town center is only accessible on foot, as the lanes are very narrow. It is best to leave your vehicle in one of the parking areas at the entrance of the village and continue on foot from there.
The name Lauzerte likely comes from a Latin word meaning lamp, because the lights of the hilltop settlement could be seen from far away at night. Not far from the town center, there is a garden with an oversized ludo board built into the ground, symbolically representing the stages of the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
