Uncover a hidden valley in southern France that the locals name the Valley of Paradise -The Célé Valley within the Lot.
Tucked away within the Occitanie area within the south of France, the Lot Division is dwelling to dramatic clifftop villages comparable to Rocamadour, well-known for its Cité Réligieuse, a fancy of medieval spiritual buildings clinging perilously to the rock face. There are caves and prehistoric artwork – just like the Padirac Cave with its underground lakes and weird rock formations which you’ll be able to go to by boat, and the Pech Merle Cave with its prehistoric rock artwork which can be so vibrant it’s straightforward to think about the animals within the photos leaping off the wall when nobody is there to see. There are historic cities the place time appears to have stood nonetheless, Figeac with its Renaissance city homes and medieval alleys, Cahors with its 14th century bridge, Pont Valentré, which, in response to legend, the satan helped to construct. Stunning villages like fairly as an image Saint Cirq-Lapopie with its Gothic home and the ruins of a fortress carved into the rock – and within the center – the key Célé Valley, a surprising a part of France.
The Célé Valley
Few know of the Célé Valley which lies between Cahors and Figeac, carving its method via dramatic limestone plateaus and the wild panorama of the Causses du Quercy, a UNESCO-listed geopark because of its cultural heritage and biodiversity. The valley is peppered with lush vineyards, forests, majestic castles and tiny villages with honey-coloured homes nestling on the foot of, or perched atop hovering cliffs which plunge all the way down to the river Célé because it flows from the mountains of Cantal to affix the river Lot beneath skies which can be stated to be the purest in France.
It is a place that makes you cease in your tracks at each nook due to its dramatic and eye-poppingly stunning pure panorama. There’s loads to do and see right here from canoeing, kayaking and swimming to biking and horse driving previous fields stuffed with wildflowers, ruby pink poppies in spring, wild orchids and carpets of violets, sky blue chicory and golden sunflowers in summer season. Walkers are completely spoiled, whether or not you wish to stroll a bit of or quite a bit. I wandered via forests the place the daylight filtered softly via the leafy cover creating a bit of magic kingdom only for me. And alongside the river which each and every morning appears to be smothered with a mild mist to be able to’t assist however count on to see an arm break via the floor holding aloft a sword King Arthur fashion.
A historic hidden gem
There are cliff prime paths with names just like the “Passage of the English” because of a fortress named the Chateau des anglaise that stood right here 1000 years in the past whereas at Espagnac-Sainte-Eulalie the GR651 mountaineering route is an alternative choice to the Approach of Saint James and also you’ll typically spot pilgrims, laden with backpacks, strolling on their option to Figeac. Little villages with eating places and cafés that look as if they’ve been pickled prior to now serve conventional dishes alongside a heat welcome. The wine is excellent, the rocky terroir and plentiful sunshine produce a number of the most interesting reds I’ve ever tasted.
There are village markets and flea markets, “foires de brocantes,” in the summertime, the place treasures may be discovered. And don’t miss the Musée de L’insolite, not removed from the famed Pech Merle, the place artist Bertrand Chenu’s open-air museum on the foot of an historic cliff stuffed with artwork created from “lower than nothing”, objects that might have been thrown away, however at the moment are changed into surreal, weird and humorous artworks that wouldn’t look misplaced within the Tate Fashionable in London.
The Moulin sur Célé – probably the most stunning Gite within the Lot
Discovering this space makes you’re feeling you’d like to remain perpetually – which is precisely what occurred to Deirdre McGlone and Marc Gysling. They first noticed their dwelling, the Moulin sur Célé, in St. Sulpice within the coronary heart of the Célé Valley while searching the web. Residing in Donegal, Eire the place for 30 years they owned and managed the legendary Harvey’s Level Lodge, they’d a craving to someday stay in France. The couple typically went on-line, in search of “the” property and once they noticed a 16th century Mill with a working gite on the market, they knew right away that this was the one.
“This space selected us, we didn’t even take a look at a map” says Deirdre. “For a very long time we had harboured a dream of getting a wee place in France when the youngsters went off to varsity. In 2020, on a stormy Valentine’s Day in Donegal – I bear in mind it nicely, a video of the Mill got here up, I simply fell in love with it there after which. Oh bingo I stated, we’ll go there and see it for actual so we did. It was pouring with rain, however we may see how beautiful and dramatic the surroundings is by way of the Causses highway as we drove. We arrived on the Mill and it was love at first sight. We drove to the workplace of the native notaire there after which. We knew we didn’t wish to take a look at anything. It ticked all of the packing containers, regardless that we had no packing containers.”
After renovating the mill, they opened their vacation villas in 2023 and have had rave critiques, not only for the laid-back ambiance, heat welcome, and distinctive country-meets-contemporary vibe and their ardour for hospitality, however for the beautiful views and spectacular location full with its personal little seashore. The Moulin sur Cele gites are excellent for two, 4 or as much as 10 visitors and all provide distinctive luxurious and stress-free stays with fantastic views and the nicest hosts you can ever want to meet.
The Mill is ready in its personal non-public parkland with vineyards in Saint-Sulpice, a perched village clinging to the limestone cliffs, peppered with medieval ruins and semi-troglodyte dwellings. It’s simply 4 km from the beautiful village of Marcilhac-sur- Célé the place the ruins of a grand 9th century Benedictine Abbey bear witness to the city’s prestigious previous. Its winding medieval streets are lined with timber homes and the pleasant boulangerie produces probably the most scrumptious croissants!
And just a bit additional on is Sauliac-sur-Célé, a village within the hole of the cliffs with curious troglodyte homes. And the tiny village of Espedaillac the place you’ll discover the Auberge Beauvillle with a pleasant ambiance and the place the menu displays the native, conventional and seasonal delicacies, wine and cheeses – I truthfully don’t assume I’ve ever eaten higher.
“We’re surrounded by nature, probably the most stunning countryside, beautiful villages, vineyards producing wonderful Malbec wine, it truly is a bit of little bit of paradise. This place simply exudes wellbeing. Having the ability to share it with others is simply the icing on the cake. We really feel rejuvenated right here – and so do our visitors.”
Data
Le Moulin-sur-Cele, luxurious vacation lodging within the coronary heart of the Valley of Parade, Vallée du Célé
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