The southwest of France has visible reminders of its long and generous history everywhere, from the Cro-Magnon cave paintings at Lascaux to the remnants of Roman trade routes and villas. Penne d'Agenais is a medieval town on the banks of the Lot river and is situated along the pilgrimage route of Saint-Jacques de Compostelle (Way of St. James).
The name has a Gallic origin: "penn" means mountain peak in the Celtic language. In the 12th century, the marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine to Henry Plantagenet caused Agenais to pass under British rule. Their son, Richard the Lionheart, fortified the Roman castle to use as a stronghold on the hill.
Today, Penne d'Agenais is crowned by the silver dome of the Notre Dame de Peyragude basilica and ruins of the medieval fortress. The fantastic panorama of the Lot Valley from the hilltop remains.
The first 3-minutes of this touristy video from Greentraveller introduce you to the Penne d'Agenais area of the Lot Valley.
Eat & Drink
The southwest of France is a largely agrarian region where food preparations are savory and rustic. Casual meals with family and friends are common. You will find an abundance of produce, fresh bread and cheese, and regional specialties such as prunes, truffles and wild mushrooms, foie gras, duck and geese, Armagnac, and red wine at open-air markets in the village squares. We will try to eat them all.
Play
Boating and fishing are easy to do on the Lot River. During the hot summer, locals may cool off with a swim in the river as well. Numerous scenic hiking and walking paths ring the hills and valleys. Bike riding from village to village is another way to see the picturesque countryside. Pétanque, similar to bocce and lawn bowling, orginated in the south of France in the early 1900's and is still popular today.
Explore
Bastide towns from the 12th to the 14th century are found throughout the region. The layout of many of these villages has remained virtually unchanged, so you can wander the central squares and stone streets, marvel at historic structures, and shop the antique markets. Bonaguil Château (castle) is nearby and is a great illustration of the development of military architecture and techniques from the Middle Ages.
