Préfecture de Lot, Cahors (46) est une charmante ville médiévale limitée par la rivière Lot sur trois côtés. Son symbole est le très joli Pont Valentré, qui date du XIVe siècle, et qui est également à l'origine d'une petite histoire mignonne.
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| Pont Valentré à Cahors © LKL |
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| Diable du Pont Velentré © LKL |
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English translation
Cahors, France
Lot's prefecture (kind of like a county seat), Cahors (46 is Lot's department number) is a charming medieval town bordered by the Lot river on three sides. Its symbol is the beautiful Valentré bridge, which dates from the 14th century and is also the source of a cute little story.
Legend has it that the bridge's architect had to sign a deal with the devil in order to be able to finish the construction. When the work was nearly completed, the devil came for his soul, and when the architect refused, the devil started tearing out stones. The masons quickly cemented his fingers into the wall, and there he remains, stuck, as you can see in this picture.
Official site - Cahors
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Comments
Hi Laura
I am a long-time fan of your weekly lessons, and for 2½ years now a resident near Cahors – thank you for featuring it – Cahors is indeed a beautiful town and we love it dearly !
Bravo for your work, and keep up the good work.
George
That’s right, or “Balandras” to give it it’s ‘proper’ name (since Occitan was the language spoken in Cahors when the bridge was built).
I love Cahors, we’re going there next month on holiday (4th time!).
Great local wine to try as well as historical sites to see.
Like several of your other commentators I am an English expatriate, resident in France. I have been an ardent reader and student of your newsletters and am also a happy resident of departement 46 near Cahors.
Many thanks and please keep up the good work
Steve
Cahors produit aussi du vin réputé depuis les moyen âges.
Cahors is indeed a lovely town with both Roman and mediaeval connections. the local wine is also a well guarded secret, as anyone who has tried it will testify. We also have a wonderful Blues festival in July, just beginning.
Chère Laura,
J’ai toujours bien ((((L.O.V.E.)))) Cahors avec le médiéval entourage………….
Adieu,
Jacqueline
We spend time each year in the Lot region and often stay in Cahors as well as gites in neighboring villages. Check out Michael Sander’s books From Here You Can’t See Paris, and The Families of the Vines. On second thought, maybe you shouldn’t….because we want to keep this region unspoiled with just enough tourists to make it pleasant. And when you read Sander’s, you will want to go.
I just found the site i was looking for.I learned basics of French in my university days 30 years back and would love to improve it. From Peshawar I have best wishes for you all readers.
The dark dark red wine of Cahors is wonderful. Cahors isn’t far from Rocamadour, where there is an interesting medieval church built into a cliff, and nearby, at l’Hospitalet, is la Foret des Singes, a privately owned park devoted entirely to the Barbary macaque. Open to the public. Well worth a visit. Also, as you well know, not far from Figeac, which has a marvelous replica of the Rosetta Stone, which was solved by a man from Figeac.
I’ve been there too and my companion told me that the bridge is known as”Le pont du diable”. It’s nice to know that in a time of religious obsession they did have some sense of humour about it!
Many thanks. it’s a really cute story ! un jour , I will be there remembering your story. un jour !!
Laura,
J’aime beaucoup vos articles des voyages. Ils sont tres interessants toujours. Celui ci aussi. L’histoire etait tres drole.
Merci
I spent three weeks living with a family and learning french in Cahors in May. I attended a french class there “Le Franc Parler” and would highly recommend it for anyone who would like to brush up on their “limited” or advanced french.
Great wine too…Vin noir!!
Salut
Je viens de Slovaquie et je veux me perfectionner en francais et je n’aurais pas possibilite de habiter a l entrager, je le trouve super que je puisse ici trouver beacoup de vocabulaire, expressions francais ainsi que les anglais
Je veux aller en France, peut-etre pour enseigner l’anglais aux eleves francais. Pardonez-moi; je n’ai pas le “keyboard” avac les accents francais!