Cabrerets

Cabrerets is a commune in the department of Lot in the Midi-Pyrénées region. The small, 228 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) counting place is situated in the valley of the Cele and is part of the Regional Natural Park of Causses du Quercy. In the area of ​​the municipality is the important prehistoric cave Pech Merle. By Cabrerets leads the Cele - variant of the French Road to Santiago Via Podiensis. This variant is referred to as GR 651.

Geography

Cabrerets located on the southwestern edge of the Massif Central on the banks of Cele, a right tributary of the Lot, only about two miles from the mouth into the solder. The village stretches along the river and is partially surmounted by the overhanging limestone cliffs of the Cele Valley. The village is dominated by the castle Château de Biron. The nearest town is Cahors, which is achieved through the valley of Cele and Lot in a westerly direction over the D41, D662 and D663 after about 32 kilometers of road. The next major French cities are Toulouse (102 km ) to the south, Bordeaux (181 km) to the northwest and Montpellier ( 203 km) to the southeast.

History

Even in prehistoric times, the area around Cabrerets was populated by people who used the caves in the cliffs overlooking the Cele as shelter. It is known especially the Pech Merle cave with their cave paintings and the connected Prehistoric Museum. The castle of the village was first mentioned in 1259 as a possession of the Lords of Barasc, one originating from Béduer noble family. During the Hundred Years' War it was conquered in 1380 by the English. And derives its present name Château des Anglais. Ten years later it was replaced by John of Hébrard, lord of Saint- Sulpice, recaptured and destroyed. Even in the 14th century created a new castle, Château de Biron, which was rebuilt in the 16th century and the Marshal Duke Charles de Gontaut belonged. In the 19th century the Castle of Count Murat was acquired, which undertook to restore and maintain the building.

Way of St. James ( Via Podiensis )

In the resort or on the Pech Merle cave, there are a pilgrim hostel (French: Gîte d' étape ), several hotels and a few private rooms (French: Chambre d' Hôtes ), and a campsite. The variant GR 651 passes the Pech Merle cave, crossing at Saint- Cirq- Lapopie the Lot valley and joins between Limogne -en- Quercy and Varaire again with the GR 65 as the D41 road route runs parallel to the St. James the Lot valley and then along the D662 to the road bridge over the Lot, which leads to the mountain village of Saint -Cirq- Lapopie.

Attractions

• The Grotte de Pech-Merle (French Grotte du Pech Merle ) houses a large exhibition on the Paleolithic. Over a distance of 1200 meters, mammoths, bison, horses and human figures are shown. Furthermore, prehistoric drawings can be visited.
• The archaeological site of Grotte du Cantal is a 160 meter long cave with prehistoric drawings.
• In Cabrerets the castle still preserved parts from the early 16th or 17th century date.