Floressas brings together medieval architectural history, wine from the Cahors region and the reddish geological formation of Terres Rouges. The château is in the village; Terres Rouges is in the hamlet of Segos, within the commune. Floressas also lies between the Causse, the Lot Valley and the Quercy Blanc. This gives you several different ways to plan your stay: architecture, wine visits with different planning requirements, and geology.
Château de Floressas: medieval complex
The château’s main construction phase dates to the 14th century. The oldest surviving part of the building is no earlier than the second quarter of that century. A residential building and two main towers remain. They formed the western side and occupied the northwestern and southwestern corners of a quadrilateral, presumably arranged around a central courtyard and measuring nearly 40 metres on each side. The surviving parts and the probable overall layout convey different scales: here, the focus is both on specific architectural elements and on the presumed spatial arrangement of a larger complex.
Église Saint-Martin and its history
Église Saint-Martin de Floressas was completed in 1762 on the foundations of a 14th-century church. Two decrees preceded the reconstruction: one issued by the Conseil de la Généralité de Montauban on 21 March 1752, and one issued by the Intendant on 29 April 1752. The floor plan follows the shape of a Latin cross. Its layout includes a rectangular nave, two side chapels and a flat-ended choir. A baldachin rises above the main altar, supported by two red Corinthian marble columns. In terms of chronology, the main difference between the buildings lies in their development: the château’s main construction phase dates to the 14th century, while Saint-Martin’s 18th-century reconstruction rests on older foundations.
Cahors wine and visits
The Floressas area is part of the Cahors wine Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée. Château de Chambert is located on the upper slopes of Floressas in the Lot département and produces AOC Cahors wines. The estate is transitioning to biodynamic farming. It offers guided visits with wine tastings lasting about an hour and a half.
Château Laur offers visits by appointment on Sunday mornings and public holidays. Check in advance of your trip for a suitable time. The two offers differ in how they need to be planned: at Chambert, you can allow about an hour and a half for a guided visit and wine tasting; at Laur, the first step is to make an appointment. This will help you decide which option best fits your schedule.
Terres Rouges near Segos
Terres Rouges is a reddish geological formation in the hamlet of Segos, within the commune of Floressas. This adds a geological point of interest alongside the château’s history, the church’s architecture and wine. If you enjoy exploring different themes while travelling, this offers a different perspective on Floressas from its historic buildings or wine visits. The commune can thus be understood through its distinctive features: its medieval architectural history, the architecture and history of Saint-Martin, Cahors wines and the formation near Segos.
Discover more destinations: Marminiac, Varaire, Lentillac-Du-Causse, Lalbenque, Montfaucon, Saint-Pantaléon, Strenquels, Berganty.
Go to the regional travel overview: Lot.
