Cabrerets: Pech Merle, hiking trails and the Célé

Cabrerets brings together prehistoric art, historic architecture and several trails in the surrounding area. For planning your trip, there are a number of specific themes to explore: the Grotte du Pech Merle, the Musée de Préhistoire du Quercy, hikes with different route characteristics, and the Célé with its swimming spot and natural environment. This means you can explore the area according to your interests in cultural heritage, hiking or riverside landscapes.

Cave, museum and architectural history

The Grotte du Pech Merle comprises one kilometre of galleries and seven chambers featuring mineral formations, prehistoric paintings and engravings. Among its authentic prehistoric paintings are depictions that are more than 20,000 years old. The cave is a protected historic monument; its floors and galleries, adorned with prehistoric drawings, were placed under protection by decree on 17 February 1951.

The Musée de Préhistoire du Quercy complements a visit to the cave with information about the works at Pech Merle. It also covers the main depictions in other decorated caves in the Quercy that are closed to the public. This broadens the focus beyond a single cave to the region’s prehistoric artworks.

The Château de Cabrerets is part of the area’s architectural history. The Gontaud family, lords of the village, built it in the 15th century. Its architectural features include two towers and a residential building crowned with machicolations.

Hiking trails with different highlights

The Chemin du Temps near Pech Merle is 3.5 kilometres long and tells the story of the universe, from the Big Bang to the present day. Views extend across the Quercy and into the Lot and Célé valleys. The route thus combines a specific distance with a thematic arc that begins with the origins of the universe and continues to the present day.

The short Boucle de Monclar passes through the Monclar forest and is associated with a Cuzoul and a dolmen. The equally short Boucle du Carol crosses the limestone plateau, with meadows, Caussenarde sheep and other small heritage sites. The two routes therefore differ both in their landscapes and in the features mentioned along the way.

The Circuit du Pech Merle is a circular hike from the village of Cabrerets to the Grotte du Pech Merle. It follows trails with impressive views over the valley and then continues along wider paths onto the plateau. The landscape changes along the route as described: the views over the valley are followed by wider paths leading up to the plateau.

For route planning, the GR651 stage from Cabrerets to Bouziès has a stated duration: it takes two hours and 15 minutes. The Grotte du Pech Merle is a few minutes from the start of this stage. The Entre Lot et Célé route offers another description of the landscape: it passes through the Monclar state forest and leaves it via a technically challenging descent towards Saint-Cirq-Lapopie.

Natural environment and swimming in the Célé

The Sagne Valley is designated as a Natura 2000 site recognised by the European Union because of its remarkable biodiversity. This designation adds a clearly defined natural attraction to Cabrerets’ cultural and historical features.

Swimming is possible in the Célé. Weather, bathing water quality and swimming advisories are posted every morning; check this information before your visit. In Cabrerets, downstream from the mill at the foot of the cliffs, there is a pebble beach. The swimming spot is unsupervised, and canoeists and swimmers share the area.

Discover more destinations: Le Vigan, Floressas, Tauriac, Mirandol, Camburat, Gignac, Grézels, Gintrac.

For the regional travel overview: Lot.