Is This France’s Most Beautiful Riverside Walk? | Saint-Cirq-Lapopie 4K Walking Tour
Is this France’s most beautiful riverside walk? Come with us on a slow 4K walking tour along the river Lot, following the old towpath, the chemin de halage, carved by hand into the cliff face, all the way to Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, one of the most beautiful villages in France. Filmed in 4K with only the natural sounds of the valley, no narration and no music, just the walk itself.
We set off from the little port of Bouziès, where the limestone cliffs of the Lot valley rise straight out of the water. Before long the path slips into the rock itself, a passage cut by hand in the 1840s so horses could haul the old flat-bottomed gabares upstream, its walls later sculpted by the artist Daniel Monnier with the swirling life of the river. We pass beneath the iron Pont Eiffel and the quiet Ganil lock, along a mirror-still stretch where the cliffs and sky fall into the water, until Saint-Cirq-Lapopie appears high on its clifftop. Then we climb into the medieval village, voted the favourite village of the French, to wander its honey-stone lanes, its church and the castle ruins looking out over the valley.
This is slow travel at its most peaceful, a quiet hour away from everything, whether you are dreaming of your own trip to the Lot valley or simply love to explore France from home. Settle in, and come and walk with us.
ABOUT US:
We’re Michelle and Charlie, creating peaceful 4K travel experiences for those who love to explore from home. After life-changing challenges, we found healing through travel filmmaking and sharing these calming escapes with you.
🎧 Best experienced with headphones, to immerse yourself in the natural sound and the feeling of being there
📱 Turn on [CC] captions for historical details and local insights in over 80 languages
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🇫🇷 CONTINUE YOUR FRENCH VILLAGE ADVENTURES:
🏰 Plus Beaux Villages de France Collection: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRGuFMlvg4ZnPvVuzXFNdPEd3ZL7KsKZg
🏆 Complete French Village Tour Collection: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRGuFMlvg4ZmshJ9A09AFfSJ8iXAlZCZq
🎬 See the full Saint-Cirq-Lapopie village tour: https://youtu.be/RDazVf9mIeU
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Chapter Markers
00:00:00 Welcome to the Lot valley: Bouziès to Saint-Cirq-Lapopie
00:00:52 Setting off along the river Lot at Bouziès
00:04:42 Under the Pont Eiffel, the 1886 railway bridge
00:08:35 The chemin de halage, cut into the cliff
00:14:38 Daniel Monnier’s river carvings in the rock
00:16:22 The Ganil lock, enjoying life on the river
00:23:52 The dappled towpath, and the waving gabare passengers
00:27:14 The weir, butterfly meadow and tractor haymaking
00:36:23 The cliff path beneath Saint-Cirq-Lapopie
00:41:57 The second lock and the old river port
00:46:19 The old Aulanac mill by the lock
00:50:56 Into the village at the Porte de la Pélissaria
00:52:16 The gardens and Rue de la Peyrolerie
00:54:09 The church and castle ruins above the village
00:57:12 Back to the river path beneath the cliffs
01:07:33 A family wild swimming, and the Pont Eiffel
01:10:36 A last look along the river Lot
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#SaintCirqLapopie #LotValley #CheminDeHalage #PlusBeauxVillages #4KWalkingTour #SlowTravel
18 Comments
Welcome, friends, and thank you for being here. 🌿
Years ago the French public voted Saint-Cirq-Lapopie their Favourite Village in France, and when you round the last bend of this river walk and see it high on the cliffs, you'll understand why.
But the village is just the reward at the end. What stayed with us was the journey to it: an old towpath along the River Lot, and a passage cut by hand straight through the cliff back in the 1840s, cool and quiet, with light off the water dancing across the stone above your head. It was a warm, still morning, and that shade was a gift for tired legs.
So pour something you love, turn on the captions (CC) for the little stories in the stone, and keep an eye out for the swirling shapes one artist carved into the cliff, and the boat where everyone waves as they pass. Then just breathe, put your feet up, and let us do the walking for a while.
Wherever you are in the world, we're so glad you came with us today. Tell us where you're watching from, we always love to know. 👇
https://youtu.be/XwFp1VFB6so
Фантастически красиво ! Петербург смотрит и любит Францию !
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
LOVE a walk by the river, the captions are really interesting and the carvings in the cliff are so impressive. The people on the boat waving and cheering really made me smile. Thanks for sharing this lovely escape ❤
Que hermoso, bellísimo paseo !!! Saludos desde la CDMX México !! 🇲🇽🙋🏻♀️
Hermoso lugar, que temperatura hay alli? Saludos desde Uruguay💕
What a breathtaking walk through Saint-Cirq-Lapopie! 🇫🇷 The river views, medieval charm, and peaceful atmosphere make this one of France's most beautiful destinations. 😍
Ai como amooo assistir vídeo sobre essas cidades lindas e tranquilas já que não posso ir viajo pelos vídeos.
❤❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉😊😊😊😊😊
A mazing
Thankyou so much once again. Winter here in Bloemfontein South Africa. Early morning and freezing!😂
I love this place, thank you❤
Mon département lot 46❤❤❤
Well done,Amazing vidéo Thanks!
wow, this is a dream place for me, the tranquility and beauty makes the heart peaceful 🥰☺️
Thank you so much. We had made this walk with my cousin Michèle and climbed the GR trough the cliff to the top, St-Cirq-Lapopie village.
Très belle promenade, même nous les français avons bien des merveilles à découvrir encore dans notre beau royaume de France. ❤
Awesome content! 👍 Thanks for sharing.