Taxi Bordeaux → Cahors

Cahors is one of the most captivating cities in South-West France. Prefecture of the Lot department, it is enclosed within a spectacular meander of the Lot river, which forms an almost perfect loop around the medieval old town. Its most iconic monument is the Pont Valentré, a masterpiece of medieval military architecture: this 14th-century fortified bridge, with its three crenellated towers, is one of the finest and best-preserved in Europe, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela. The legend of the devil, who allegedly helped build the bridge, is immortalised by a small devil sculpture on one of the towers. The Saint-Étienne Cathedral, with its monumental Romanesque cupolas and sculptured Last Judgement portal, is another jewel. The medieval quarter abounds with lanes, Renaissance townhouses and the secret Daurade garden by the Lot. But Cahors is above all the world capital of Malbec (or Côt), the black grape variety producing powerful, dark and tannic wines, nicknamed 'the black wine of Cahors'. The Cahors AOC appellation extends over the limestone hillsides of the Lot valley, and the qualitative renaissance of the vineyard since the 2000s has propelled the best estates (Clos Triguedina, Château Lagrezette, Clos de Gamot) onto the international stage. Argentina's Mendoza vineyard, now the world's largest Malbec producer, owes its grape to Cahors, from where it was imported in the 19th century.