Dolmen du Pech Laglayre (B) walks

The twenty-eighth stage of the Camino de Santiago. A truly beautiful stage that winds through the Célé Valley. As you follow the river, the rocky cliffs open up to reveal their dark caves, pretty villages, cave dwellings and mills. The Célé Valley undulates along a route that is both wild and poetic, and is sure to fill you with wonder!

Thissecond stage on theGR®651takes you through places with ancient stone buildings: the Priory of Espagnac, the Château des Anglais in Saint-Sulpice, troglodyte houses and the caselles of Marcilhac. It also offers magnificent views of the Célé valley from the balcony-like path on the plateau. This stage also allows you to explore the causse and its network of low stone walls, evidence of the region’s once-thriving agricultural past.

Let yourself be swept away by the local legends and those invented by the pupils of the EREA. A truly beautiful route with a variety of scenery!

The Célé Valley is one of several routes on the Way of St James. Some say it is one of the most beautiful. From Faycelles, near Figeac, to Cahors, via Espagnac, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie and Vers, this 7-stage hike takes its time around the villages of the Célé and then the Lot. It’s the perfect way to appreciate the monuments, landscapes and people of this very welcoming region.Don’t hesitate: it’s beautiful, friendly and welcoming.Return to the starting point by SNCF bus.

From the top of the Faycelles plateau, between the Lot and the Célé rivers, the route leads to the starting point ofthe GR®®651for thefirst descent into the Célé valley.Medieval villages such as Faycelles, Corn and Espagnac, ancient stone castles, churches, chapels and priories: you’re definitely on a route of the Way of St James. The most beautiful one, they say.The route is very shaded and benefits from the coolness of the Célé valley.

The twenty-ninth stage of the Way of St James. This beautiful stage begins with another climb, leading to the castle-museum of Cuzals with views over the Causses and the Célé valley, before reaching the heights of Cabrerets. The village nestles along the Célé and is dominated by its very impressive castle. This is followed by a visit to the Pech Merle cave, before discovering some of the stage’s most beautiful panoramas, with a lovely view from the Rochecourbe cliff. A lovely descent takes you away from the Célé to reach the Lot, near Bouziès, where the GR®651 ends. It is here that I suggest a detour from the Way of St James, heading upstream towards Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, a fantastic hilltop town and a must-see in the department. Passing through an incredible spot, you’ll have the chance to discover the towpath, a trail carved into the rock and originally used for horses to pass through.

A walk starting from Cénevières Castle and leading to the village of Calvignac, where there is a lovely viewpoint and a community-run bar with a stunning view over the River Lot. For the most part, the route follows a wide path along the crest, followed by a descent along a narrow, fairly steep path. Please note that this is a one-way route: you will therefore need to arrange for a car to be waiting in Calvignac, or possibly walk back.

The twenty-seventh stage of the Way of St James. For this stage, you’ll leave theGR®® 65to follow a charming alternative route that will take you off the beaten track and allow you to discover unspoilt nature with breathtaking scenery. Just before the charming little village of Béduer, you’ll leave theGR®® 65 to take the Célé route on theGR®® 651. You’ll pass through the villages of Boussac and Corn, with their old houses typical of the Quercy region and their troglodyte caves. Then, nestled in the bend of the River Célé, you’ll discover Espagnac-Sainte-Eulalie – two authentic villages merged into one. It’s worth noting that the magnificent priory and its exceptional bell tower alone are well worth the detour. It’s not without reason that the area is known as Val Paradis.

Thirtieth stage of the Way of St James. On this stage, you leave Saint-Cirq-Lapopie via the magnificent towpath and head for Bouziès. You leave theGR®651to follow theGR®36. You climb back up onto the Causse plateau, offering beautiful views of the Lot valley, before descending to Arcambal and its medieval castle. You then follow the tranquil course of the Lot to Cahors.