Saint-Cirq-Lapopie

Saint-Cirq-Lapopie

Saint-Cirq-Lapopie overlooking the Lot River

Coat of arms
Saint-Cirq-Lapopie

Coordinates: 44°27′55″N 1°40′14″E / 44.4653°N 1.6706°E / 44.4653; 1.6706Coordinates: 44°27′55″N 1°40′14″E / 44.4653°N 1.6706°E / 44.4653; 1.6706
Country France
Region Occitanie
Department Lot
Arrondissement Cahors
Canton Saint-Géry
Intercommunality Lot-Célé
Government
 • Mayor (2008–2014) Gilles Hardeveld
Area1 17.89 km2 (6.91 sq mi)
Population (1999)2 207
 • Density 12/km2 (30/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
INSEE/Postal code 46256 / 46330
Elevation 120–389 m (394–1,276 ft)
(avg. 320 m or 1,050 ft)

1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Saint-Cirq-Lapopie is a commune in the Lot department in south-western France. It is a member of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France ("The most beautiful villages of France") association .

Its position, originally selected for defense, perched on a steep cliff 100 m above the river has helped make the town one of the most popular tourist destinations in the department, and the entire town is almost a museum. After it was "discovered" by the Post-Impressionist Henri Martin, it became popular with other artists and the home of the writer André Breton.

Location

Saint-Cirq-Lapopie is located 30 km east of Cahors, within the regional natural park Parc naturel régional des Causses du Quercy. The village overlooks the Lot River.

History

The stronghold of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie was the main seat of one of the four viscounties that made up Quercy, divided among four feudal dynasties, the Lapopie, Gourdon, Cardaillac and Castelnau families.

Way of St. James

Saint-Cirq-Lapopie is situated along the French pilgrimage route, Way of St. James. Coming from Cabrerets pilgrims would pass through, and then continue to Cahors, visiting St. Stephen's cathedral.[1]

Notable people

Popularity

The Guardian reported in July 2012 that the village received 400,000 visitors each year, mostly from within France, and that it had become "besieged by tourists" since winning a popularity vote on a French public television program in June 2012.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ fr:Saint-Cirq-Lapopie#Le pèlerinage de Compostelle
  2. ↑ Willsher, Kim (28 July 2012). "France's favourite village doesn't want to be a tourist supermarket". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
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