Discover Aujols

Aujols combines historic washhouses and local history with the landscapes of the Igues d’Aujols and the Conquettes Valley. During your stay, you can focus on culture, nature or hiking. Two walking routes add specific trail details to the area’s historical and landscape features.

Washhouses and local history

The “Papillon” washhouse is a distinctive feature of the Causse de Limogne. Its name derives from the V-shape of the limestone slabs against which washerwomen beat their laundry. Aujols has a “Papillon” washhouse; it also has a complex of 20 washhouses arranged in a row, an ensemble of exceptional size. The former washhouse no longer serves its original purpose and is now a place for relaxation and remembrance.

The town’s history includes two distinct buildings. Château des Cardaillac-Bioule occupied the upper part of Aujols’s town centre and was built in the second half of the 13th century. Château d’Aujols is now known as “Les Créneaux.” It was probably gradually abandoned from the beginning of the 16th century and had become a ruin by the 18th century. When distinguishing between the two, it is worth keeping their names clear: Cardaillac-Bioule refers to the château in the upper part of the town centre, while “Les Créneaux” is the current name of Château d’Aujols.

The Igues and the Conquettes Valley

The Igues d’Aujols bring together landscapes and nature conservation. A secure viewing point offers a view of the Igue de la Ramade, the largest of the three Igues d’Aujols. The steep walls provide a natural habitat for many remarkable and protected bird species. At the same time, the igues are protected and enhanced as part of the Lot Department’s “Espaces naturels sensibles” policy. The viewpoint and habitat protection offer two different perspectives on the area: its visible landscape and its ecological importance.

The Conquettes Valley offers a different kind of landscape. The Grotte des Conquettes lies below cliffs in a narrow, shady valley. The hillsides are covered with wooded heathland and stony dry grasslands, forming a remarkable biodiversity reservoir that now needs to be protected. Here, both striking landforms and landscape diversity take centre stage.

On foot in Aujols

Two routes with different details are available for getting outdoors. A 12-kilometre hike follows a circular route from the village to the Igues d’Aujols. The “Balade de Puits en Lavoirs” starts at Aujols town hall and is a moderately difficult 10.5-kilometre walking route. It takes about three hours. Compared with the 12-kilometre hike, the Balade is 1.5 kilometres shorter; its difficulty level and duration are also specified. Check the conditions on your chosen route before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Paul-De-Loubressac, Le Bourg, Cavagnac, Leobard, Lacapelle-Marival, Lissac-et-Mouret, Montfaucon, Cuzance.

Go to the main travel overview: Lot.