Labastide-Marnhac

Labastide-Marnhac is in the Lot department, 10 km south of Cahors. Its cultural heritage ranges from the Château de Labastide-Marnhac to churches and the Dolmen de Peyrelevade, and includes routes with a variety of focuses. If you are looking for a hotel for your stay, you can plan your trip around these specific interests: architecture and history, or activities on trails through the region.

Location and landscape of Quercy Blanc

The Château de Labastide-Marnhac stands on a 318 m-high hill at the edge of a plateau. From there, it overlooks the surrounding hills and wide-open valleys. The landscape of Quercy Blanc around Labastide-Marnhac includes clay as well as limestone; the natural mixture of the two materials is called marl. The location and soil give the area a distinctive landscape setting, while its historic buildings offer further points of interest for a trip to this region.

The château and its building history

The Château de Labastide-Marnhac was built on the ruins of an earlier castle after the Hundred Years’ War, probably in the late 14th or early 15th century. Its building history thus links a medieval reconstruction with an older castle site. Its architectural features include an old drawbridge flanked by two defensive towers. Both towers have arrow slits. These features give the château a clearly recognizable defensive character, but its history is not limited to its architectural form: the sequence of an earlier castle followed by the later château also shapes its historical context.

Churches with different historical connections

The churches of Labastide-Marnhac each have their own historical connections. The church of St. Rémy was the main church of the seigneurie of the de Jean de Labastide family. In the mid-16th century, it became a subsidiary church of the church of Labastide. The church of Salgues is mentioned several times in documents dating back to the 13th century. The present-day church of Labastide was most likely the former chapel of a hospital established by Guillaumon de Jean in 1284. The different dates help distinguish the histories of the three churches rather than grouping them into a single period in the village’s history: their documented connections span from the 13th century to changes in the mid-16th century.

Dolmen and mill in the landscape

The Dolmen de Peyrelevade is described as probably dating from the Chalcolithic period and likely built around 2000 BC. Its present-day described form consists of an overturned, partly destroyed capstone, two supporting stones and a base slab. This arrangement makes it possible to distinguish the megalith’s different components; at the same time, its dating remains explicitly uncertain. The dolmen therefore provides a much older archaeological connection alongside the medieval buildings.

Another historic site is the Moulin de la Courounelle. It was built in 1772 on the Trespoux plateau and overlooks the valley. The mill is in poor condition and is privately owned. These features are part of its description, as are its location on the plateau and its date of construction; therefore, do not plan a visit without first checking whether access is possible.

Hiking and gravel cycling

The Circuit des Trois Eglises starts in Labastide-Marnhac and runs through Quercy Blanc as a hiking route. Along the way, you can discover three villages and their churches. The route is also suitable for horse riders and mountain bikers. The Circuit is therefore distinguished in particular by its combination of hiking and churches in several villages. Check local conditions before setting out.

The Les Graviers Blancs gravel loop is 33 km long, with 400 m of elevation gain. The loop should be avoided in heavy rain, as the trails can become especially sticky. In contrast to the Circuit des Trois Eglises, its stated distance, elevation gain and specific weather warning are the main considerations. The two routes therefore differ in the activities described and in the information that matters for planning your trip.

Discover more destinations

Aujols: Aujols, Lavergne: Lavergne, Alvignac: Alvignac, Baladou: Baladou, Cavagnac: Cavagnac, Montgesty: Montgesty, Sarrazac: Sarrazac, Saint-Jean-Lespinasse: Saint-Jean-Lespinasse.

For the main travel overview: Lot.