Cahors

The city of Cahors is located in south western France. Cahors is the former capital of the Quercy Region and is thought to have been inhabited since Roman times. Cahors was very prominent during the Middle Ages and its medieval quarter is still a major draw for visitors to the city with...

The city of Cahors is located in south western France. Cahors is the former capital of the Quercy Region and is thought to have been inhabited since Roman times. Cahors was very prominent during the Middle Ages and its medieval quarter is still a major draw for visitors to the city with its winding streets and medieval houses. Students enrolled in French school in Cahors will learn that the Valentre Bridge is considered the symbol of the town. Its construction began in 1308 and was completed in 1378. The legend associated with the bridge is that the builder made a pact with the devil to help with the completion of the bridge. When the bridge was restored in the 1800s the architect added a small sculpture of the devil at the top of one of the three towers on the bridge. The city is quite unique in that it is almost entirely surrounded by water, built on a peninsula on the River Lot. While in Cahors, students will find that once they are in the city center, they can easily walk to most attractions. For wine lovers, be sure to visit the wine museum, Chantrerie with exhibits on how local wines are made. The region is famous for its ‘black’ wine. Students taking French courses in Cahors might also learn to search for this region’s ‘black diamond’, truffles. Cahors is known for its friendly, welcoming people. Students lucky enough to study here will find there is much to see and do in this lovely medieval city.