Lot-et-Garonne

Self catering Lot et Garonne holiday rental villas, gites and Houses, France

The Lot-et-Garonne department is situated in the southwest of France, named after the Lot and Garonne rivers. Although somewhat overshadowed by its departmental neighbour, it is still one of the hidden gems of France. With beautiful villages, bastides, fortified towns, chateaux and the plentiful waterways in the area, there is much to be explored and enjoyed when staying in holiday rental accommodation in Lot-et-Garonne, France.  

A self catering holiday rental home in the Lot-et-Garonne will offer you the perfect combination of interests, whether you’re searching for that perfect spot to just relax or looking for more of an active experience – there is plenty to keep all types of holidaymaker occupied in the Lot-et-Garonne! You may only spend a few days in the area but this beautiful, unspoiled part of France will leave anyone with a lifetime worth of memories of a stunning and tranquil area that many would never have realised even existed. 

Lot-et-Garonne is part of the current region of Aquitaine and is surrounded by the departments of Lot, Tarn-et-Garonne, Gers, Landes, Gironde, and Dordogne. Being completely land-locked means Lot-et-Garonne is the ideal location to experience rural France with its fantastic, relaxing atmosphere! Lot-et-Garonne is one of the original departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. Originally, formed from part of the provinces of Guyenne and Gascogne.  Some of the original south eastern cantons were separated from it to form the department of Tarn-et-Garonne. Traditionally the rivers in the Lot-et-Garonne were used for transport but today boating and canoeing down the Canal Lateral is the ideal way to explore this peaceful, historic part of France. Be sure to visit the famous Cahors vineyards when you rent a Lot-et-Garonne farmhouse or cottage. The annual wine fair in Prayssac is held in August and a real treat for wine lovers. 

A Large area of the Lot-et-Garonne is made up of the old French province of Gascony which is famous for its rich food and Armagnac brandy. Armagnac is believed to be the oldest spirit in France which dates back to the 12th century long before its main rival Cognac.  

Food-processing, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals are all major industries of the department. The Lot-et-Garonne is regarded as one of the major fruit producing areas of France with possibly the country’s largest orchards. Famous for its sweet strawberries, melons, agen plums and all of the locally produced foods, a visit to one of the many markets across the Lot-et-Garonne is a must during your stay in the area.  

The quiet back roads with their wooded hillsides slope between the valleys provide great cycling and horse riding routes.

Places to visit in Lot-et-garonne, France 

Beauville – This attractive medieval hilltop village is set 25km east of Agen. The village boast a traditional Bastide square which is surrounded by a beautiful arcade of shops. With a number of restuarants including creperies this village is a popular base for tourists during the summer months as it is close to a large number of tourist hot spots across the Lot-et-Garonne.

Laroque-Timbaut -  A tranquil sleepy village which make it an ideal spot to admire the buildings and the fabulous views over tree covered valley which is situated below the village.

Puymirol – One of the oldest bastides in the Lot-et-Garonne. Situated high up on a rock outcrop this town has a number of arcaded stone buildings and a beautiful 13th century church. Unlike most traditional bastides, Puymirol has a centre that is spread along a main street rather than  being based around a square.  With much of the original ramparts still in one piece, the look out tower located high in the hills provides stunning views across the valley below. 

Marmade – Founded back in 1195 this fantastic bastide town provides a fantastic base for climbing, walking, caving, canyoning and a number of boat trips. Although its city centre is very lively with plenty on offer, this town still retains much of its historic values.

Lauzan – Situated in the north of the department this charming rural village provides the best fishing in the region. 

During the course of your holiday in the Lot-et-garonne, France you may choose to take a trip to the wonderful towns of Monflanquin, Pujols, Penne d’Agenais, Villereal, and  Frespech - all of which are small, yet interesting, medieval villages. Several of these classed as 'most beautiful villages in France'.

Neighbouring the Dordogne makes the Lot-et-garonne the ideal spot for everyone. The north of the region will provide you with access to the wonderful sights the Dordogne has to offer, where as central Lot-et-garonne offers the opportunity to relax in a peaceful environment away from all the crowds.  

The warm dry summers and temperatures reaching around 25 °C make the Lot-et-garonne perfect for cruising down the river or playing the odd game of golf during your stay. There are two 18 hole, and four 9 hole golf courses in the region to visit when staying in a Lot-et-Garonne holiday rental property. On the other hand the winters can become quite cold during the winter with the temperatures often hitting freezing during the winter months December through to February. The winters do have their advantages however, transforming the Lot-et-garonne into a haven for skiing enthusiasts,  the wonderful ski resorts of Saint lary, Cauterets, Bareges, Vale d’Azun and Campan-Payolle all offer fantastic facilities for Snowboarding, Skiing and even a spot of Cross Country. 

The closest airport to the Lot-et-Garonne is Bordeaux which receives daily flights from most of the UK’s major airports. For the best deals available, its recommended to examine all the airlines that make this journey - which include Easy Jet, Flybe,  Aer Lingus and BMIbaby.