Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Hôtel Belvédère,
in the upper town, has the best interior view from its modern dining
room. Book ahead for a window-side table, ideally for a meal just before sunset (
menus
from €19, daily, tel. 05 65 33 63 25; also listed under “Sleeping in Rocamadour,” earlier).
The
Bar l'Esplanade
hunkers cliffside below Hôtel Belvédère and owns unobstruc-
ted views from the tables in its garden café. It's open for lunch, dinner, drinks, and snacks
(daily, tel. 05 65 33 18 45).
An hour and a half south of the Dordogne, the overlooked Lot River meanders through a
strikingly beautiful valley under stubborn cliffs and past tempting villages. The fortified
bridgeatCahors,theprehistoriccavepaintingsatGrotteduPechMerle,andthebreathtak-
ing town of St-Cirq Lapopie are worthwhile sights in this valley—each within a half-hour
of the others. These sights can be combined to make a terrific day for travelers willing
to invest the time (doable as a long day trip from the Sarlat area). They also work well
as a day trip from Rocamadour, and are worthwhile for drivers connecting the Dordogne
withAlbiorCarcassonne.(Ifyou'regoingtoorcomingfromthesouth,youcanscenically
connectthisareawithAlbiviaVillefranche-de-RouergueandCordes-sur-Ciel.)Withextra
time, spend a night in St-Cirq Lapopie, which makes a good base for visiting the area.
