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In the footsteps of medieval Quercy: Saint-Céré & the Château de Castelnau-Bretenoux from Les Hauts de Sauliès

From Les Hauts de Sauliès, take the road north of the Lot to discover Saint-Céré, a city of art and history with lively streets and medieval charm, before reaching the Château de Castelnau-Bretenoux, an imposing red stone fortress overlooking the Dordogne valley.

  • Saint-Céré – 1 hour
  • Castelnau-Bretenoux Castle – 14 minutes
  • Return to Les Hauts de Sauliès – 1 hour

Saint-Céré – Travel time: 1 hour

Nestled in the north of the department, Saint-Céré charms visitors with its narrow streets lined with half-timbered houses and its small market town atmosphere. Once crisscrossed by an ingenious network of canals, the town prospered thanks to its crafts and river trade. Today, it combines heritage, culture, and lifestyle in a picturesque setting.

Urban canals

Created in the 17th century to channel the Bave River and supply mills, tanneries, and dye works, the canals of Saint-Céré earned it the nickname “Little Venice of the Lot.” Although most of them have disappeared, a main canal remains visible near Faubourg-Saint-Clément, a testament to remarkable hydraulic engineering.

Mercadial Square

The true medieval heart of the city, Mercadial Square still boasts its arcades, sculpted facades, and half-timbered houses. Dominated by the 15th-century Maison des Consuls, it recalls the political and economic prosperity of the city in the late Middle Ages and remains a lively place today.

Church of Sainte-Spérie

Built on the crypt and sacred spring of Saint Speria, a martyr from the 8th century, this Romanesque church with Gothic elements is a major local pilgrimage site. Its crypt, bathed in soft light, gives the place a mystical and spiritual atmosphere.

Church of the Récollets and Castle of Saint-Laurent-les-Tours

The Récollets Church (17th century), now an exhibition and concert hall, charms visitors with its painted coffered ceiling and elegant simplicity. Overlooking the town, the Château de Saint-Laurent-les-Tours, a former medieval fortress, houses the Jean Lurçat Museum, dedicated to the artist and his textile and pictorial work.

Castelnau-Bretenoux Castle – Travel time: 14 min        

Perched on a hilltop over 200 meters above sea level, the castle of Castelnau-Bretenoux has proudly dominated the Dordogne valley for nearly nine centuries. Built in the 12th century by the powerful barons of Castelnau, it impresses with its massive, defensive architecture, featuring ramparts, crenellated towers, machicolations, and parapet walkways.

Built from red stone with iridescent hues, the castle owes its unique color to a geological coincidence that accentuates its majesty. From the top of its walls, the view over the Dordogne, Cère, and Bave valleys is spectacular—a true medieval gem, intact and imposing, symbolizing the seigneurial power of Quercy.

Opening hours: May to August — 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. — Full day in July and August — April and September to October — 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Return to Les Hauts de Sauliès – Travel time: 1 hour

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