Plan is to fly from US to either Barcelona or Paris, then straight to Bordeaux. 1st night in St Emilion, then on to Sarlat for 5 nights. Could you please recommend another area/B&B to explore the Lot region for 5-7 nights? We considered a gite but have decided we would rather do a nice B & B or hotel. Willing to spend 70-100 Euros per night if that helps. It seems most of the places I am finding are only 1 hr or so from Sarlat and while that is ok, I'm wondering if we would be getting into the heart of the Lot region?

we stayed by Carennac in the Lot at a lovely gite 2 years ago that was perfect for exploring the area

I have written it up in SlowTrav under France rental reviews under the Pyreenees page

or go to www.holiday-rentals.co.uk and plug in #58566 - very secluded but close to lovely sights - loved the Dordogne area but the Lot is a darn close 2nd!! Dale

(edited by kaydee to correct link)

This message has been edited. Last edited by: kaydee,

We will be in the Dordogne in September and will base out of Sarlat at this B&B
http://www.hotelsarlat.com/cou...rlat_cordeliers.html Check out Trip Advisor for reviews. This forum as well as Fodor's have great suggestions for day trips.

{fixing link}

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Jonathan,

Hi Rita,

We spent two weeks in the Dordogne and the Lot last summer, on a self-guided walking tour (about 140 miles), staying in seven different locations during our week in the Lot.

We really liked the village of Carennac, where we stayed at the two-star Hostellerie de Fenelon, right on the river. This is a simple, family-run place (Logis de France) with friendly service. I especially recommend the restaurant, where we had an excellent five-course meal. This hotel might work in your price range.

We didn't stay overnight in either of these places, but we also really liked the villages of Loubressac and Autoire in the Lot. Like Carennac, these villages are also designated Les Plus Beaux Villages (the most beautiful villages) in France.

The Logis de France website is a good resource for reasonably-priced hotels with local charm. We have found the restaurants to be especially good. You will also find hotel and chambre d'hote listings on the tourism website for the Lot.

Kathy

Carennac , Curemont, Autoire, all that area is well worth visiting, but it is only about 50 minutes from Sarlat where the OP will be staying. It can be an easy day trip out of Sarlat. Rita, maybe you can lengthen your stay in Sarlat to a week, and cover Carennac/Autoire/Loubressac as daytrip(s).
This way you keep down the number of times you have to pack-schlep-unpack.

As for the Lot, the area along the Lot/Célé river is a little further south and has its own concentration of beautiful villages - smaller, much less visited but just as beautiful as the villages in Dordogne.
Beautiful villages and towns that leap to mind:
- St Martin de Vers,
- Marcilhac sur Célé,
- Espagnac Ste Eulalie
- Calvignac
- St Cirq Lapopie
- Figeac.
Excellent bastide market town: Villefranche de Rouergue (market thursday morning).
You can - must - also visit the prehistoric cave Pech Merle.

I recommend staying in st Cirq Lapopie not only for its beauty, but because it can be so overrun during the day. If you stay in the village and can be there at dawn and at dusk when no one else is around, the experience is out of this world. Only two hotels. I have stayed at both: the Sombral and Pelissaria, both good, esp the latter.
The old château in St Cirq has been made into a b&b. I have not stayed there but can vouch for its beauty in and out.
Here is the link.
Another place I can recommend is this b&b in Tour de Faure, in front of St Cirq. It is a Karen Brown favorite.
All that area between Cahors and Figeac along the Lot river would be what I would consider "the heart of the Lot region". It is about a two-hour drive from Sarlat.

Thank you all! This is exactly the information I need! I am starting with Americanos post and work my way up...Americano, according to Trip advisor Pellisara is closing due to owners retirement very soon if not already done so. It's a shame, looks like a lovely place.

Sorry to hear that. I stayed there several years ago, the owners were not old, but later was told it had changed hands.

Hi Rita,

We stayed here several years ago. It's right on the River Lot in the small village of Albas, near Cahors. It's about 1 hour south of Sarlat. From there we explored the entire area and thoughly enjoyed our stay with Robin and Justin Saunders. You can read about our stay in my trip report #1259 on Slow Travel Web site.

http://www.lotfrance.com/