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Figeac

We spent a couple nights in Figeac twelve years ago (we think) and liked it a lot. This year, we were in the area—kind of— and decided to see Figeac again. We ended up spending five nights here, which is longer than we usually spend in smaller towns, but we didn’t regret that at all. Figeac is an enjoyable place and the area around it is beautiful; perfect for drives a couple of days.

Figeac fits our description of a perfect French town to explore. It’s been here forever: archeologists have found a Roman road down the Célé river valley where Figeac is situated. It has not been restored and prettified for tourists (though we did see a few more tourist-oriented stores than on our last trip). It feels more as if Figeac has been well-maintained over the centuries rather than restored and re-vamped to something that would draw tourists.

Okay, time for Figeac pictures.

Looking over Figeac from a hill on the edge of "downtown" Figeac.

The buildings on the center of this photo are among the oldest in Figeac; they were built sometime in the 1500s

Honestly, much of Figeac looks like this. It isn't gussied up; it's a city that, if you took away the cars and modern stores and signs, would look much as it did centuries ago.

Love the little look-out on the wall here.

A passage from one building to another.

The color on the shutters of this building is typical of houses in Figeac and the surrounding area. We saw it often.

Can you see why we like Figeac so much? It’s just an authentic, living town; nothing fancy or pretentious. We spent five nights here - a long stay for us - and didn’t regret it at all. It didn’t hurt that we were in a small “boutique” hotel that was very nice and was run by a super-nice couple.

I should mention the Musée Champollion. Champollion was the person who decoded Egyptian hieroglyphics in 1822. He was born in Figeac and his house is now a museum. There’s a large room dedicated to him and how he decoded the hieroglyphics. The rest of the museum is dedicated to the history of writing, from marks on clay tablets to modern alphabets and languages. It was fascinating! Worth a trip to Figeac by itself.

We’ll probably not spend five nights in Figeac again, but if we’re in the area? Two or three nights, for sure. We love the place.

Rambles Around Figeac

One thing we remembered from our earlier stay here was drives we took in the area. Figeac sits in the Célé River valley, and is north of the Lot River valley. So one day we drove down the Célé Valley and then back to Figeac through the Lot Valley.

In the Célé valley we stopped in an interesting-looking town and took a stroll. We found this long-abandoned Benedictine monastery. Like Abbaye Preuilly, this would have been disbanded around 1790, when the French Revolution was in full force (and I do mean "force"). Unfortunately, this monastery had no savior as Preuilly did, and though some parts have been revamped into usable facilities, it looks as if much of the monastery continues to fall down.

This reminds me of a "MacMansion" in the United States, using every square inch of the lot. This chateau hangs on a cliff overlooking the Célé river. Gotta be careful when you step outside for a breath of fresh air at night.

The town of of Lacapelle-Marival has this 15th century fortress for a town hall. Not bad, eh? We went here to visit the Office of Tourism — they always have good information — but it was closed — a "fermature exceptionelle" — and employees were tying while flowers to plants at the fortress. Can you guess why? It was Sept 11, and they were honoring the victims of the disaster of 9/11 in New York and Washington, D.C.