Crégols lies on the left bank of the Lot; geological traces and buildings with a long history shape the village in different ways. The Sentier karstique de l’Igue de Crégols leads to geological features, while the chapels and Pigeonnier troglodyte de Font-d’Erbies offer other ways to explore the village’s history. When planning your visit, it is worth considering these highlights separately: the karst trail offers a specific route with an optional extension, while each historic site has its own character.
Karst landscape and walking trails
The Igue de Crégols is a karst depression typical of the Quercy region. It formed when water dissolved the limestone and the ground above collapsed. The Sentier karstique de l’Igue de Crégols focuses on this geological feature: eleven information points, each marked by an explanatory wooden post, accompany the route. The trail is five kilometres long and leads to geological features, including a former phosphate mine.
An optional extension includes a cave loop and a there-and-back route to a viewpoint overlooking the Lot Valley. This lets you choose between the five-kilometre route and an extended version with these additional sections. There are also several walking and hiking trails in the municipality; the Sentier karstique is one of several ways to explore Crégols on foot.
Buildings from different periods
The Église Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens was built between 1875 and 1885 on the site of a former 12th-century Templar chapel. The Pigeonnier troglodyte de Font-d’Erbies reflects a different connection between architecture and landscape: the dovecote, dating from the 17th to the 19th century, stands above a karst spring on a masonry arch. It was listed as a historic monument by decree on 16 January 2012.
The Romanesque Chapelle de la Chaire de Saint-Pierre, later known as the Chapelle de Saint-Antoine, is also among the village’s historic buildings. It is believed to date from the 11th or 12th century. The different dates show that Crégols reflects more than a single period: in the case of the church, a medieval predecessor was followed by a new building in the 19th century, while other buildings are dated much earlier.
Art, phosphate history and other activities
In the hamlet of Trégoux, halfway between Concots and Crégols, the Espace d’Art Roger Gobron permanently displays works by the Belgian painter Roger Gobron. Visits are by appointment only. If you would like to include a visit to the art space in your plans, arrange an appointment in advance.
The phosphate mines of Crégols also tell the story of a long history of use: their origins date back thousands of years, and they were worked as fertilizer mines from 1865 to 1902. The cave at the Font-d’Erbies spring is on private land and is designated a Natura 2000 site. The cliffs at Crégols also have climbing routes for experienced climbers—another activity alongside walking and hiking.
An annual event is the Trail de l’Igue, held in Crégols on the first Sunday in December each year. If you would like to plan your trip around the event, check the announcement for the relevant year.
Discover more destinations: Labastide-Marnhac, Bio, Belmont-Bretenoux, Saint-Chamarand, Varaire, Promilhanes, Calvignac, Vaillac.
See the main travel guide: Lot.
