The Domaine’s guides · 03
The Lot from October to April.
What’s open, what’s on.
Villages without the crowds, truffle markets, Rocamadour almost to yourself: the late season and winter are another way to discover the Lot. Here is what stays open, what closes, and the season’s events, month by month.
Open all year
What never closes.
Villages, viewpoints and the major sites remain accessible all year round; only the opening hours tighten. Times shown are estimates from the houses.
| Site | In winter | From the houses |
|---|---|---|
| Rocamadour | Village and sanctuaries open all year; the Rocher des Aigles, the Forêt des Singes and the Grotte des Merveilles close from autumn to spring | 30 min |
| Gourdon | Medieval bastide and Saturday-morning market, all year | 15 min |
| Gramat animal park | Open all year | 30 min |
| Souillac, Martel, Carennac | Villages and markets all year; reduced hours for the abbey church and cloister | 30 to 50 min |
| Loubressac, Autoire and its waterfall | Villages and waterfall path accessible all year | 45 min |
| Château de Castelnau-Bretenoux | Open all year, with weekly closing days off season | 55 min |
| Cahors and the Pont Valentré | All year; market on Wednesdays and Saturdays | 40 min |
| Saint-Cirq-Lapopie | All year, a very quiet village off season | 55 min |
| Figeac and the Champollion museum | All year | 1 h |
| Collonges-la-Rouge, Turenne, Curemonte | All year | 55 min to 1 h |
| Sarlat | All year; market on Wednesdays and Saturdays, Christmas market in December | 45 min |
| Marqueyssac gardens, Château de Castelnaud, Eyrignac gardens | Open all year | 50 min |
| Les Eyzies (museum), La Roque Saint-Christophe, Proumeyssac chasm | Open all year | 1 h 10 to 1 h 25 |
| Château de Beynac, Lascaux IV | Open from February to early January, closed in January | 50 min · 1 h 05 |
Off season, many sites close one or two days a week and shorten their hours: always check before setting off. Periods recorded in October 2026.
Closed in winter
What reopens in spring.
The caves and the animal parks take a break. If one of them matters to you, aim for late autumn or early spring.
| Site | Opening period | From the houses |
|---|---|---|
| Gouffre de Padirac | Late March to early November | 45 min |
| Pech Merle cave | April to early November | 50 min |
| Cougnac caves | 5 April to 31 October | 20 min |
| Lacave caves | 7 February to 11 November | 25 min |
| Presque caves | February to November | 45 min |
| Grotte des Merveilles | 5 April to 30 September | 30 min |
| Rocher des Aigles | 1 April to 30 September | 30 min |
| Forêt des Singes | 21 March to 1 November | 30 min |
| Cougnaguet fortified mill | 1 April to 31 October | 20 min |
| Haut-Quercy steam train | April to September | 40 min |
| Gabares, Bouziès cruise, canoes | April to October; canoes until the end of August | 40 to 55 min |
| Château de Fénelon | April to October | 35 min |
| Château des Milandes | February to mid-December | 1 h |
The season’s calendar
Month by month,
from autumn to spring.
October
The forests of the Dordogne valley turn colour; walnuts, ceps and chestnuts arrive at the markets. Last days for Padirac, Pech Merle and the Cougnac caves. The pool can be heated as an option.
November
Calm settles in: Rocamadour, Sarlat and the villages can be visited without queuing. Lacave and Presque stay open until 11 November. The foie gras markets open the season.
December
Sarlat’s Christmas market fills the whole month, with its ice rink and chalets; the foie gras market is held there on Saturday mornings. The truffle markets begin: Lalbenque on Tuesdays, Limogne on Fridays, Martel and Cuzance on a Saturday before Christmas.
January
The truffle month: Sarlat’s truffle festival in mid-January, prize markets in Martel, Gourdon and Souillac, Lalbenque’s truffle festival at the end of the month. Beynac and Lascaux IV take a break until February.
February
The last truffle markets: Martel, Cuzance by night, Saint-Céré. The Lacave caves reopen on 7 February; Presque, Beynac, Lascaux IV and Les Milandes follow.
March and April
Fest’Oie in Sarlat on the first weekend of March, then the Forêt des Singes (21 March), Padirac (late March), Cougnac, Pech Merle, the Rocher des Aigles and the gabares reopen in April. Pool heating is available again as an option.
Usual dates, recorded for the 2025-2026 season; each organiser publishes its calendar in the autumn.
Winter day ideas
Three days without the crowds.
Rocamadour to yourselves
- Arrive via L’Hospitalet for the view, then walk down into the village
- Sanctuaries and the Notre-Dame chapel, with no queue
- Lunch in Rocamadour or Gramat
- Gramat animal park in the afternoon, open all year
Sarlat on market day
- Saturday-morning market, foie gras and truffles in season
- Lunch in the medieval town
- Marqueyssac gardens or Château de Castelnaud
- Back via La Roque-Gageac and Domme
Truffles and the Lot valley
- Cahors and the Pont Valentré in the morning
- Lalbenque truffle market on Tuesdays at 2.30 pm, December to early March
- Saint-Cirq-Lapopie before nightfall
At the house
Coming home to the warm.
Heating throughout the house, a fitted kitchen, dishwasher, large television, Wi-Fi and linen provided: the houses are designed for long evenings as much as for summer. The pools stay open all year; heating is available as an option in April and October, and on request from November to March, depending on the weather.
Off season, a single night can be booked, and long stays are welcome: La Bastide du Causse sleeps up to eight guests, Le Belvédère du Quercy up to four.
Frequently asked questions
The Lot off season, in practice.
Can the pool be used in winter?
It stays open, but without heating the water is cold. In April and October, heating is added as an option when booking; from November to March it can be considered on request, depending on the weather and the length of the stay.
Are the restaurants open?
Many close one or two days a week off season, and some for the whole winter: book ahead, especially on Sunday evenings and Mondays. Gourdon, 15 minutes away, keeps its shops and its Saturday market.
Do we need to book visits?
Rarely necessary off season, but hours are shorter and some sites close one day a week: check the opening days before setting off.
Can we come for a single night?
Yes, off season, according to the calendar shown on the booking page.
Does it snow in the Lot?
Rarely, and snow seldom settles on the causse; the main roads are kept clear. The houses are accessible all year round.
Are the markets held in winter?
Yes: the weekly markets run all year, the truffle markets from December to early March, and the foie gras markets from November to February.