Saint-Caprais brings together a church with 15th-century frescoes, a chestnut tradition with its own festival, and a circular walking trail. This offers different ways to plan your trip: religious art, local produce or exploring the landscape.
Church and Frescoes
The church of Saint-Caprais dates from the beginning of the 11th century and is listed as a historic monument. Inside are 15th-century frescoes depicting the sacraments of the faith, the Deposition from the Cross and the Last Judgement. The Deposition is a scene from the Passion narrative; the Last Judgement refers to the Christian belief in the end of time. The gap between the church’s construction and the frescoes brings two periods in the history of the same church to life. The images offer a different way in than the building’s date: they make the religious meaning of its later decoration tangible.
Chestnut Festival and Local Produce
The “Fête de la châtaigne” is held every year on the second Saturday in October. If you are planning to travel for the occasion, check the specific event dates in advance. The festival features an open-air market, an exhibition, sales, demonstrations and tastings of artisan-made products. Chestnuts are presented as flour, preserves, jams, liqueurs, syrup and cakes; there are also traditionally roasted chestnuts, known as “birols”, as well as “croubels”. Following the planting of new chestnut varieties by farmers, Saint-Caprais is considered one of the region’s “capitals” of the chestnut. The cultivation and festival thus highlight two sides of the chestnut tradition: farming and the fruit’s varied uses.
Banner Art in the Bouriane
Since 2017, painted banners have been displayed on the walls of five villages in the south of the Bouriane, including Saint-Caprais, as part of the “L'Art et la Bannière” exhibition. The 2024 edition featured 40 banners by 40 artists in the streets of these five villages. For planning by year, note the distinction between the dates: the chestnut festival returns every year on the second Saturday in October, while the figures of 40 banners and 40 artists refer to the 2024 edition.
Landscape, Walks and Café
A little-known road to Saint-Caprais runs through a forest to a pasture clearing, considered a main resting place for transhumant sheep. The circular trail for the “Le Trésor de Pech-Curet” game is a walking route around Saint-Caprais. The Café Le Caprazy offers outdoor games that let visitors explore the surrounding landscapes. The activities differ in focus: the circular trail centres on a walk around Saint-Caprais, while the outdoor games take in the surrounding landscapes. Café Le Caprazy opened in summer 2025 as a community-run café and was open to residents and visitors passing through for food or cultural breaks. Before your visit, check whether the café is currently open and whether the circular trail and outdoor games are available.
Discover more destinations: Montlauzun, Cadrieu, Cuzac, Catus, Cremps, Montgesty, Reilhaguet, Concorès
For the broader travel overview: Lot.
