Carlucet lies in the heart of the Causses du Quercy Regional Natural Park and also within the Causses du Quercy UNESCO Global Geopark. Its natural surroundings, starry skies, trails and cultural history each give the village a distinct appeal. When planning your visit, you can first decide whether you are especially interested in the landscape and stargazing, a particular activity on the trail, or the village’s historical details.
Natural surroundings and starry skies
Carlucet lies in the Triangle Noir du Quercy, an area considered to be particularly little affected by light pollution. The Carlucet stargazing site has an information panel about the night sky and a viewing axis facing south-southwest. The panel provides an introduction to the subject; the axis indicates a specific direction in the sky. Together, these two features give the stargazing site its own clearly recognizable character.
The area’s classification also reflects specific nature conservation designations. The Vieux chênes de Cantegrel is classified as a Natura 2000 site. Carlucet is also included in the ZNIEFF Zone centrale du Causse de Gramat. As of 12 June 2025, this area encompasses twelve natural habitats worthy of protection. Thus, alongside the large-scale natural park and geopark, there are also named natural areas and a specific number of habitats.
Choose trails by activity and route format
The trails differ in how you travel and in their route format. The horse-riding trail “De Bouriane à Rocamadour entre Périgord Noir et Haut Quercy” passes through Carlucet and is a circular route of about 150 kilometres on horseback. The Chemin des Caps Durs is a circular route of about 20 kilometres for mountain biking and hiking. Comparing these two circuits gives you a choice of different activities and notably different approximate distances; in each case, the distance refers to the entire circular route.
Another option is the GR 46, which passes through Carlucet on its route from Tours to Toulouse and forms an alternative route on the Way of St James to Santiago de Compostela. This gives it a different character from the two circular routes described above. When planning, keep in mind the activity specified for each trail and the route format that suits you. Conditions on the Chemin des Caps Durs may change; both the waymarking and conditions on the GR 46 may vary. Check them before setting off.
Church, cemetery and historical details
The Church of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine is dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene. It was very probably originally a castle chapel. One notable detail of the parish church is the tabernacle door, which depicts Christ as the Good Shepherd. The chapel’s possible original function and the depiction on the tabernacle offer two different insights into the church’s history and furnishings.
The former priory and the cemetery of Carlucet are also part of the area’s historical heritage; both were listed as historic monuments on 12 October 1948. The cemetery, with its enfeus, contains 16 graves, most of them beneath round arches. The number of graves and their architectural design make this cemetery a specific point of interest for anyone interested in the village’s architectural details.
Summer gourmet market
Every summer, the Carlucet Marché gourmand takes place on Tuesday evenings in July and August. The venue is the car park below the town hall. Dates may vary from one edition to another, so if you want to include the market in your travel plans, check the dates for the relevant edition.
Discover more destinations: Montcuq, Estal, Girac, Puyjourdes, Cabrerets, Laval-De-Cère, Cassagnes, Touzac.
For the broader travel overview: Lot.
