TOURISM

Three ‘must sees’ that span 5,000 years

See below for details of our guided tours of
- the Cave and Prehistoric Park at Foissac
-
the hilltop village of Capdenac Le Haut
- the stained glass windows of Notre Dame des Voyageurs

 





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Grotte de Foissac
Capdenac Le Haut
Eglise N.D des Voyageurs

Discovered in 1965 and classed as a ‘Monument Historique’ in 1978, the Grotte de Foissac contains some real treasures: exceptional mineralogy – it’s a veritable work of art sculpted by Nature. There are objects and traces dating back 5,000 years, from the time when the site served as shelter and necropolis.

The surrounding park brings to life how Prehistoric Man lived. The Museum houses ancient tools, copper, arrowheads and animal remains. High point for kids: the ‘Prehistoric Suppers’ held each week throughout summer, featuring a ‘prehistoric’ menu (ask us for more details)..

Perched high above the meandering River Lot, the ancient village of Capdenac Le Haut offers spectacular views and has plenty of ancient stories to tell.

In particular, the village claims to be "Uxellodunum", the last bastion of the Gauls against the armies of Julius Caesar in 51 BC. It vies for the title with two other villages in the Lot but there is much to support its claim.

Enjoy the ancient fountains; listed ramparts and tower, the narrow streets straight from the Middle Ages and the beautiful Church of St John the Baptist. Whether or not Capdenac Le Haut really is “Uxellodunum”, it’s clear that it has witnessed many periods of history including Roman invasions and the Hundred Years’ War.

Notre Dame des Voyageurs, situated in the centre of Capdenac Gare, was built between 1899 / 1904. It replaced Notre Dame de la Gare which became too small to meet the needs of the town’s growing population.

A focal point of the Church is its stunning stained glass windows which show the station, the men who worked on the railway, steam locomotives and wagons, all with a backdrop of Capdenac in the early years of the 20th century.

From 1963-70 the original windows were replaced by glass panes of a contemporary design which allow the light to penetrate to a greater effect. The windows are the work of Marc Hénard, glassmaker and sculptor of religious art.

The Church windows capture the history and development of Capdenac Gare.

Parc phéhistorique de Foissac
Capdenac Le Haut
Vitrail église Capdenac

GUIDED VISITS : contact numbers below

CAVE AND PREHISTORIC PARK AT FOISSAC : 05 65 64 77 04
April, May and October : every afternoon except Saturday
From the lst June to 30 September : every day from 10 h to 11 h 30 and 14 h to18 h
July and August: every day 10 to 18 h
Group guided tours are organised at Foissac and can be booked in advance all year round.

CAPDENAC LE HAUT : 05 65 64 74 87
Group guided tours (min 12 people). These are organised by the Tourist Office and can be booked in advance all year round.

STAINED GLASS WINDOWS OF NOTRE DAME DES VOYAGEURS : 05 65 64 74 87
Group guided tours (min 12 people). These are organised by the Tourist Office on request at times to suit the group. These can be booked in advance all year round.