Guide · around Château du Boscau
Autoire and Loubressac
Autoire and Loubressac from the château (6 km)
Autoire and Loubressac both lie 6 km from Château du Boscau and less than ten minutes from each other: two of the most beautiful villages in France, in the same valley. Autoire is tucked away in a rocky bowl with a waterfall; Loubressac, by contrast, is perched high on a spur of rock, with one of the finest views in the Lot. You can do both in half a day, which is exactly why we cover them in a single guide.
You can even see Loubressac from our own château, sitting on its rocky spur on the horizon.
From the château you can be at either village in about ten minutes, a short drive through the valley. For Carennac and Saint-Céré, also close by and with guides of their own, see our area page.
What you'll see
Autoire lies in a cirque: a natural amphitheatre with steep limestone walls, covered in moss and scrub, where springs emerge from the rock. The village itself sits at the mouth of the valley, with centuries-old houses around a small square.
Autoire is also known as “the little Versailles of the Lot”: from the 16th century onwards, leading citizens of nearby Saint-Céré had manor houses and small châteaux built here as country retreats, packed closely together in a small village of honey-coloured stone.
At the back of the valley the Cascade d’Autoire plunges 30 metres, the highest waterfall in the Lot. In the cliff face beside it are the remains of the Château des Anglais, a fortified cave from the Hundred Years’ War: rock shelters like this, known in the Lot as “roques”, served as refuges and lookout posts for bands of mercenaries who, despite the name, were not necessarily English.
Loubressac sits on a spur of rock above the valley: houses with flower-decked balconies and winding lanes surround a 15th-century castle and a 14th-century chapel with a carved tympanum. For centuries the castle belonged to the same family as Castelnau-Bretenoux castle, until it passed in 1909 to the writer Henri Lavedan, a member of the Académie Française.
In the village itself you’ll find a few small restaurants with views over the valley, a good spot for lunch on your way between the two villages.
The Cascade d'Autoire: route, parking and swimming
From the car park by the village it’s a 1.2 km walk to the waterfall, along a path that can be slippery after rain, so sturdy shoes are a must. Swimming at the cascade is not allowed: it’s a protected nature reserve with a fragile ecosystem.
About 200 metres before the waterfall, a side path leads to the Château des Anglais. The walk to the waterfall is quite manageable with children; allow about an hour there and back at a gentle pace.
If you have more time, you can walk the “Circuit de la Reculée d’Autoire”: a waymarked 5.6 km loop (just over two hours, moderate difficulty) that starts at the fountain in the village and passes the waterfall, the Château des Anglais and old dry-stone walls. Along the way you’ll also see why this is called a “reculée”: a deep cleft in the limestone plateau, with tufa formations created by lime-rich water.
The view from Loubressac
From Loubressac’s rocky plateau you look out over three valleys at once: the Dordogne, the Cère and the Bave. On clear days you can even make out Castelnau-Bretenoux castle and the towers of Saint-Laurent in the distance. It’s the same lofty position that makes the village itself recognisable from afar.
You can enjoy the view from the village square itself, no walk required: handy if you’re short of time or less mobile.
With children and dogs
The walk to the cascade is short enough for young children, though the path can be slippery after rain; keep little ones close on the last stretch towards the water. Loubressac itself has a largely traffic-free centre, a nice place to let children wander freely. Both walks are fine with a dog too, though swimming isn’t allowed at the cascade itself.
When to go
The cascade carries the most water in autumn and winter, after rain has replenished the spring; in a dry summer there’s less to see. Loubressac, on the other hand, is worth a visit all year round, though in July and August the small car park fills up sooner and the viewpoint on the plateau gets busier.
For a glorious walk starting from the waterfall at Autoire, (early) morning is the best time. Sometimes the valley is still wrapped in morning mist, but up by the waterfall you can see over it all. You can park for free at the highest point of the walk, right by the waterfall. Bear in mind that after a dry spell in summer and late summer there is little water: spring, autumn and winter are best. Loubressac is at its most beautiful at sunset, with sweeping views over the Dordogne valley and three châteaux in sight: Castelnau, Boscau and Saint-Laurent-les-Tours.
Combine with
Autoire and Loubressac lie close to Carennac (8 km) and Saint-Céré, Montal and Presque (8 km), and a short distance from Castelnau-Bretenoux castle, which you can see in the distance from Loubressac. You can combine all three in a single day, or browse them separately on our area page.
Want to add a bigger attraction? The two villages combine well with Rocamadour or the Gouffre de Padirac, both on the route back to the château.
Both Autoire and Loubressac belong to Les Plus Beaux Villages de France. They lie close together, so it is well worth parking in Loubressac, for example, and walking from there through Loubressac and on to Autoire. In Loubressac, an ice cream on the terrace at Le Kiosque is always a treat.
Where to stay near Autoire and Loubressac
Château du Boscau is 6 km from both villages, about ten minutes’ drive. You can choose from three stays: Gilles del Bosc, the self-catering apartment for 4 with 2 bedrooms, dogs welcome too; Louis IX, the upstairs self-catering apartment for 2, where pets are welcome too; and Jean Mouliérat, our B&B room for 2 with its own bathroom.
By arrangement, guests in all three can join us for table d’hôtes: a three-course dinner of local and organic produce. Or, after a day in Autoire and Loubressac, enjoy a pot of tea and something sweet in our own tea garden.
Back in Loubressac after a lovely walk to Autoire and back, you can dine at Salon Le 1799 with the finest view over the Dordogne valley. A proper French dinner out!
Autoire and Loubressac suit every stay
Pick one of the stays as your base, and make both villages part of your time in the Lot.