Caves & Castles
Small Group
Guided Archaeology Tours
& Self Catering Holidays
Dordogne, France
Example Custom Caves & Castles
Mary Moody Tour, Lot, France
Have you read Mary Moody’s book
‘Lunch at Madame Murat’s’?
Mary Moody, the popular Australian author and television presenter, loves France and particularly fell in love with the Lot region. So much so, she bought a house in the little village of Frayssinet le Gelat.
One of Mary Moody’s best selling books is ‘Lunch at Madame Murat’s’, a tucked away restaurant which has been in the same family for 5 generations - and the 6th are sometimes to be seen playing in the courtyard!
It’s a delight to eat there - the warmth of welcome from Madame Murat herself and her daughter, Sylvie, who now heads up the family team running the restaurant is special. And the food? Well, what a treat! Follow this link and you’ll see what we mean - Lunch at Madame Murat’s is an experience not to be missed!
Here’s an idea of an Itinerary for your Custom Tour - we suggest you spend a minimum of 3 days here.
Day 1: Visit to Lascaux II, the stunning facsimile of the world famous painted caves known as the ‘Sistine Chapel of Prehistory’ and then to Le Thot where you can see additional scenes from the original cave of Lascaux and also the techniques used to produce both the original and the replica.
We’ll then go to Chateau de Losse and its gardens which have been listed as a French Historical House & Site since 1928. It’s picturesquely set overlooking the Vezere River.
Day 2: Today we head to Cahors to explore the amazingly colourful market - take a big basket! For lunch, we’ll head to Madam Murat’s restaurant ‘Chez Jeanne’ much loved by Mary Moody. After our delicious and leisurely lunch, we’ll go to Frayssinet le Gelat where Mary Moody has her house and look at the other restaurant she mentions in her books - La Poule au Pot.
Day 3: Visit to the National Museum of Prehistory where you can see artefacts found at sites you have visited and many others too. It’s a large, complex museum with a wonderful collection and with Steve’s guidance you will see the highlights and get an understanding of it and the area.
Visits to Font de Gaume which has 230 exceptional multi-coloured wall paintings - the only Ice Age polychrome cave open to the public in the world and Les Combarelles - famous for its 600+ engravings - especially the 'Drinking Deer'.
But this is your Tour and we’re happy to work out what’s right for you - so contact us so we can explore ideas together, including where you would like to stay, whether you will be hiring a car and the sort of places you would like to see.
Here’s a comment from a recent visitor on a Custom Tour:
“What a fabulous 2 weeks experience! Marc said: all I had to do was pour wine and take pictures - everything else was left to Steve & Judie.
So if you want that sort of experience,
Just one of the many famous images from Lascaux
Mary Moody’s book Lunch at Madame Murat’s
Mary Moody has signed this much loved copy of Lunch at Madame Murats
The colourful market at Cahors
Magnificent Chateau de Losse overlooks the Vezere
Madame Murat still runs the restaurant today with her daughter Sylvie
Two of the sixth generation of the Murat family.