A picturesque river valley rich in heritage and history, the Lot has much to offer the wildlife enthusiast, being a butterfly hotspot, home to many wildflower meadows and supporting good populations of many bird and reptile species.
The landscape of the Lot Valley and its surrounding department in south-west France is a beautiful blend of different influences. The River Lot itself has carved a beautiful route through the limestone plateau, forging impressive cliffs on its flanks. In its wilder stretches, large swathes of sessile oak forest dominate and harbour special orchids and abundant warblers, nightingales and wild boar. The lower-lying land along the valley has been traditionally farmed with minimal intensity, and supports many farmland birds now scarce across other parts of Europe, like turtle dove, hoopoe, crested lark, red-backed shrike and cirl bunting. The stunning golden oriole also has a stronghold here, favouring the poplar trees along the river.
Perhaps the most exciting of all the habitats, though, is the impressive Gramat Causse, a large limestone steppe with rich wildflower meadows supporting exceptional diversities of flora, butterflies and other insects.
For the naturalist, there's a wide range of interesting habitats to explore over the course of a visit to the region, including rocky hillsides, grasslands, heathlands and wetlands. The region has many other attractions with prehistoric caves, iconic hanging villages, delicious local cuisine, vineyards and plenty of panoramic views to soak up.
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