Saint-Cirq-Lapopie
Encyclopedia
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 is 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
.
, within the regional natural park Parc naturel régional des Causses du Quercy. The village overlooks the Lot River.
, divided among four feudal dynasties, the Lapopie, Gourdon, Cardaillac and Castelnau families.
Poet André Breton
spent time here in the 1950s in his "auberge des Mariniers."
. Coming from Cabrerets
pilgrims would pass through, and then continue to Cahors
, visiting St. Stephen's cathedral.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Lot department in south-western France. It is a member of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France
Les Plus Beaux Villages de France
Les Plus Beaux Villages de France is an independent association, created in 1982, which aims to promote assets of small and picturesque French villages of quality heritage...
("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 is 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
Henri Martin
Henri Martin was a French historian celebrated in his own day, whose modern reputation has been eclipsed by the greater literary and interpretive powers of his contemporary, the equally passionate patriot Jules Michelet, whose works have often been reprinted.-Biography:Having first written a few...
, it became popular with other artists and the home of the writer André Breton
André Breton
André Breton was a French writer and poet. He is known best as the founder of Surrealism. His writings include the first Surrealist Manifesto of 1924, in which he defined surrealism as "pure psychic automatism"....
.
Location
Saint-Cirq-Lapopie is located 30 km east of CahorsCahors
Cahors is the capital of the Lot department in south-western France.Its site is dramatic being contained on three sides within an udder shaped twist in the river Lot known as a 'presqu'île' or peninsula...
, 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 viscountcies that made up QuercyQuercy
Quercy is a former province of France located in the country's southwest, bounded on the north by Limousin, on the west by Périgord and Agenais, on the south by Gascony and Languedoc, and on the east by Rouergue and Auvergne....
, divided among four feudal dynasties, the Lapopie, Gourdon, Cardaillac and Castelnau families.
Poet André Breton
André Breton
André Breton was a French writer and poet. He is known best as the founder of Surrealism. His writings include the first Surrealist Manifesto of 1924, in which he defined surrealism as "pure psychic automatism"....
spent time here in the 1950s in his "auberge des Mariniers."
Way of St. James
Saint-Cirq-Lapopie is situated along the French pilgrimage route, Way of St. JamesWay of St. James
The Way of St. James or St. James' Way is the pilgrimage route to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where tradition has it that the remains of the apostle Saint James are buried....
. Coming from Cabrerets
Cabrerets
Cabrerets is a commune in the Lot department in south-western France.The village of Cabrerets derives its name from cabre, meaning goat in the Occitan language.-Geography:...
pilgrims would pass through, and then continue to Cahors
Cahors
Cahors is the capital of the Lot department in south-western France.Its site is dramatic being contained on three sides within an udder shaped twist in the river Lot known as a 'presqu'île' or peninsula...
, visiting St. Stephen's cathedral.