Beautiful French Village Saint-Cirq-Lapopie

It has been a minute since we chatted about our travels in France but today we are back in the French countryside for another stop. The village Saint-Cirq-Lapopie was on my saved list of places I wanted to visit. Since we were not staying too far from it- we mapped it and made our way over to it. It absolutely did not disappoint.

Saint-Cirq-Lapopie

Set in the French countryside, the picturesque village of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie is such a beauty. I have to also shout out the drive to get to the village- meandering through the countryside and groves of old trees- it was gorgeous.

When you finally arrive at Saint-Cirq-Lapopie village- there are parking areas below and then it is a short walk up the hill to that famous arch that welcomes you in.

One of the most photographed views is the arch leading into Saint-Cirq-Lapopie- and it pretty much instantly charms you when you see it. The cobblestone streets, beautiful village houses and abundance of blooms were captivating and I absolutely fell in love. It felt right out of a fairytale and around every corner, I was half expecting to hear Belle from Beauty and the Beast singing.

We spent a couple of hours just soaking up all the beauty this little village has to offer. Here are a few favorite snaps and some of what we had heard and learned about visiting Saint-Cirq-Lapopie.

Rainy Day Beauty

We visited on a rainy day and I think that definitely was to our advantage. The crowds are apparently notorious at this village and we were thrilled that there were just a few others wandering around at the same time as us after hearing about so many others bustling experiences.

Early Birds

We also arrived at Saint-Cirq-Lapopie fairly early in the morning. Villages don’t ‘open’ at a specific time so early mornings and late evenings are a perfect time to visit with less crowds. Of course, the little cafe’s and businesses won’t be open- but you can explore and enjoy the village for a couple hours and then sit for a bit and sip coffee when they open.

Choose a less busy day for your visit

Since this village is on the list as one of the most beautiful villages in France- it is a hot spot for folks wanting to visit. And I have heard that it is always busy. Aside from the rain and visiting early morning, we also visited midweek and it was perfection for enjoying quiet exploration.

I could talk about this charming village for days- I absolutely fell in love with it. I highly recommend a stop if you visit this region of France- you won’t want to miss it. And after a day of exploring the countryside areas in this corner of France, we stayed at a most charming cottage. I will share that and a couple more of our favorite villages next.

You can read about the medieval village we stayed in just before this stop in this post HERE.

Happy Monday all.