The best cycling routes around Villeneuve-Sur-Lot

Superb place with a coffee shop in the square « tea mo » +1

The commune has the peculiarity of encompassing three distinct former bourgs or villages: Blanquefort (the main bourg), nestled around its castle and crossed by the river la Briolance. La Sauvetat, perched on an agricultural plateau, housing a Romanesque church from the 12th/13th centuries with a square bell tower. Saint-Chaliès, a forest sector also possessing a Romanesque church from the same period as well as an unusual llama farm.

The village was born in the 18th century at the will of the Marquis de Biron. It is located just a few minutes' drive from the famous Château de Biron (located in Dordogne), a major "stone giant" of the region, as well as the Château de Gavaudun.

The site is distinguished by its typical architectural charm of the region (between Périgord noir and Quercy): A Romanesque church with a stocky bell tower and a sculpted portal. Ancient frescoes partially preserved inside the monument. An old mill (the Moulin de Saint-Avit), a testament to the historical hydraulic activity of the Lède valley, now converted into a charming domain for accommodation and events.

Crowning a 40-meter-high rocky spur, this 11th-century castle was once a stronghold of heretics and later a key bastion of the Hundred Years' War. It stands out for its unusual rock-hewn entrance and its intact 6-story, 70-meter-high keep, offering an exceptional panorama. The history of Gavaudun Castle spans nearly a millennium, marked by heresies, major medieval sieges, and strategic alliances between Périgord and Agenais.

The Château Prieural de Monsempron, adjoining the imposing Saint-Géraud church, is a major medieval monument in the Lot-et-Garonne. Located in the heart of the old fortified village of Monsempron-Libos, this former Benedictine complex overlooks a remarkable rocky spur. Built from the 12th century onwards, it was the residence of the prior of the local monastic community, then attached to the powerful abbey of Aurillac. The complex houses galleries of a 13th-century cloister and a unique medieval crypt, considered by experts to be one of the most beautiful in the diocese of Agen. Purchased and restored by the municipality, the castle has four interior rooms. It has now been transformed into a dynamic art center hosting temporary exhibitions of contemporary painting and sculpture throughout the year.

The bridge owes its name to Nicolas de Cieutat (baron of Pujols) and his son Arnaud. In 1585, they successfully led the heroic defense of Villeneuve-sur-Lot against the troops of Marguerite de Valois (Queen Margot). It initially comprised five arches and three fortified square brick towers with portcullises and machicolations, intended for the defense of the town. At the beginning of the 17th century, violent floods swept away two arches and its central tower. In 1643, by order of Cardinal de Richelieu, the bridge was rebuilt with a single monumental arch spanning 36 meters, giving it its current asymmetrical silhouette.

This beautiful Voie Verte (Green Route), created in 2008, 2009 and 2010, connects Villeneuve-sur-Lot to Casseneuil. It follows the footprint of two old railway lines on the outskirts of Villeneuve-sur-Lot and at the entrance to Casseneuil. Between these two sections, it is a pretty path that was created along the stream "La Masse".