Carlucet: Nature, Starry Skies and Heritage
Accommodation in Carlucet
Carlucet lies in the heart of the Causses du Quercy Regional Natural Park and the Causses du Quercy UNESCO Global Geopark. The Triangle Noir du Quercy is considered an area with particularly low light pollution. The natural park and geopark provide the regional context, while the Triangle Noir adds a focus on the night sky. Carlucet has a stargazing site with an information panel about the night sky and a viewing axis facing south-southwest. This brings together the area’s broader natural context and specific information about stargazing.
Natural Setting and Starry Skies
The Vieux chĂŞnes de Cantegrel is designated a Natura 2000 site. Carlucet is also included in the ZNIEFF Zone centrale du Causse de Gramat. An environmental inventory dated June 12, 2025, lists twelve natural habitats there that merit protection. These two designations have different focuses: the Natura 2000 designation applies to the Vieux chĂŞnes, while the ZNIEFF places Carlucet within a zone containing twelve natural habitats.
Trails and Routes
The “De Bouriane à Rocamadour entre Périgord Noir et Haut Quercy” bridleway passes through Carlucet. It is an approximately 150 km circular route for horseback riding. The Chemin des Caps Durs is an approximately 20 km circular route for mountain biking and hiking. The two routes can be compared by their approximate length and activity: the longer one is described as a riding route, and the shorter one as a route for mountain biking and hiking.
The GR 46 from Tours to Toulouse passes through Carlucet and is a variant of the Way of St. James to Santiago de Compostela. Its two endpoints and connection to the pilgrimage route offer a different point of reference from the circular routes. Conditions on the Chemin des Caps Durs may change; signage and conditions on the GR 46 may also change. Check this information before setting out.
Church and Historic Heritage
The Church of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine is dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene and was most likely originally the castle chapel. The former priory and the cemetery of Carlucet were listed as historic monuments on October 12, 1948. The cemetery, with its enfeus, contains 16 graves, most of which lie beneath round arches. The tabernacle door in the parish church depicts Christ as the Good Shepherd and is considered to have been restored. The heritage details described here range from a cautiously worded historical interpretation and a dated monument designation to funerary architecture and an image motif.
Summer Gourmet Market
Carlucet’s Marché gourmand is held every summer on Tuesday evenings in July and August. The venue is the car park below the town hall. The recurring season and day of the week provide a general timeframe; exact dates may vary from one edition to another. If you would like to plan your trip around the market, check the date of the relevant edition.
More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Rocamadour, Saint-Matré, Saint-Pantaléon, Sarrazac, Grézels, Crayssac, Calvignac, Le Vigan
Go to the regional travel overview: Lot.
