Local towns

Montaigu de Quercy

Montaigu de Quercy is 8 km from Valprionde. It is a lively village with a range of shops. including an excellent bakery with fresh pizza, a doctor, pharmacy, banks, and restaurants. Check out the traditional French market on Saturdays. La Sirene is a pretty restaurant with excellent food on a sunny terrace.

There is also a lake with sandy beach which is noted for its clean, safe swimming area. Other recreational activites are also available here such as boating, watersports, tennis, mini-golf and so on. It is a great place to bring a picnic.

www.coll82.com/montaigu-de-quercy/

Montcuq

Montquc is a 12th century town with a tower. This a thriving town with a supermarket and other grocery stores, a bakery and a butcher. There are two cafe/restaurants in the Place de la Republique, the Cafe du Centre and Cafe de France.

However, on Sundays, the town has a magnificent market attracting local producers from all over the region. They gather in the Town Square and side streets setting up their stalls and offering a variety of products from fresh vegetables and fruit, meat and fresh fish, to clothing, kitchen utensils and fabric.

www.tourisme-montcuq.com/

Roquecor

Roquecor is an English/Dutch expatriate enclave, with a good Sunday market. There is a recommended and well-known bar and restaurant in the village.

www.caferoquecor.com/contact.htm

Cahors

Cahors, on the River Lot, was the capital of the old province of Quercy. It is a medieval city, and today is a regional centre, with many restaurants, bars, supermarkets and many modern conveniences. Cahors is approximately 30 minutes drive from the property and also has an excellent market on Saturday. Cahors is famous for its Pont Valentre Bridge over the flowing River Lot. You can explore the many beautiful medieval villages in the Lot Valley.

www.tourisme-cahors.com/

Toulouse

The city of Toulouse is just one and half hours drive with its famous opera house in the Capitole, street cafes and a very good daily market. The Airbus factory also holds excellent guided tours.

Summary of nearby markets

Saturday Cahors, Moissac, and Montaigu du Quercy
Sunday Montcuq and Moissac
Tuesday Valence d’Agen
Thursday Libos (near Fumel)

Plus Beaux Villages

There are a few notable awarded "Plus beaux Villages" (very beautiful villages) in the area, such as Lauzerte, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, and Rocamadour.

Lauzerte is a historic bastide or fortified village and can trace its origins back to the signing of the village charter in 1241 by the Count of Toulouse. As a stronghold, Lauzerte governed the surrounding area up until the 18th century. It was an established stopping off point on the pilgrim trail to Santiago de Compostela, with many modern travellers still following the same route to this day.
 
Saint-Cirq Popopie is a beautiful medieval village perched on the edge of a cliff over looking the Lot River and valley. Aside from the stunning scenery, you will find some very nice boutique shops here as well as some great restaurants with typical French and Quercy cuisine.
 
Rocamadour is France’s second most visited tourist attraction after Le Mont St-Michel. This magical town with golden houses clinging to the side of a cliff over the Alzou canyon is a must see. Take in the Gouffres du Padirac famous caves with a boat ride through the ancient caves. Visit Sarlat the medieval town of the Dordogne with its famous Saturday market. In the evening the town has a romantic feel about it with the portrait artists outside the Cathedral St Sacerodos.

A popular day out is kayaking on the River Dordogne with a picnic lunch on the banks admiring the medieval towns and open countryside

www.les-plus-beaux-villages-de-france.org