Lot, Department in Occitanie, France
Lot is a département in Occitanie in southwestern France, positioned between the Massif Central and the Dordogne region. The territory shows limestone cliffs, river valleys, and scattered villages built from white stone.
The département formed in 1790 during the French Revolution from parts of the former Quercy province. Later some areas were separated to create Tarn-et-Garonne.
The name comes from the river that winds through limestone gorges and shapes the landscape. Villages along its banks show steep slate roofs and pale stone houses that cling to hillsides.
Cahors serves as the prefecture while Figeac and Gourdon are the two sub-prefectures. Each of these towns offers access to the surrounding areas and valleys.
The Pech-Merle cave system preserves wall paintings from prehistory that reach back around twenty thousand years. Visitors can still view the original artworks today.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
