The countryside around Domaine de Montfage is dotted with beautifully preserved medieval bastide towns
These medieval planned villages, built in the 13th and 14th centuries, are characterised by central squares and arcaded streets that still form the heart of local life today.
Exploring the bastides is one of the best ways to experience southwest France at its most enjoyable pace—on quiet, winding country roads that link one village to the next. The routes take you through rolling hills, open countryside and small valleys, with plenty of moments where the drive itself becomes part of the experience. Along the way you’ll discover a mix of lively market towns and peaceful hilltop villages, each with its own character and charm.
Monflanquin
Perched on a hilltop with wide views over the surrounding valleys, Monflanquin is one of the most iconic bastides in the region.
The village hosts several festivals throughout the year that bring the bastide to life. In summer, the medieval festival transforms the village with costumes, performances and a lively market in the square. There are also music and arts events, adding a festive atmosphere to the historic streets during the warmer months.
It is also a great starting point for a short walk through the Lède Valley, where quiet paths lead you through rolling farmland and woodland just below the village.
Villeréal
Villeréal is built around one of the most impressive covered market halls in southwest France, giving the village a strong sense of daily life and tradition.
On Saturday mornings, the square fills with local producers and is one of the best markets in the area.
Villeréal also sits on a scenic driving loop between Monflanquin and Monpazier, passing open countryside, small hamlets and wide agricultural landscapes.
Stop by at Domaine de la Tuque along the way for a (English spoken) tasting of organic wine, made of historic regional grapes.
Monpazier
Often described as one of the most perfectly preserved bastides in France, Monpazier feels almost unchanged since medieval times.
The Thursday morning market is a highlight, set under the arcades and in the central square. Just off the main square, you’ll also find the Bastideum museum, a small but interesting museum that explains the history and layout of bastide towns and how they were built in the Middle Ages.
From here, a beautiful driving route leads through the Périgord countryside towards Beaumont-du-Périgord, with quiet roads, forested hills and panoramic viewpoints.
Villeneuve-sur-Lot
A larger bastide town on the River Lot, Villeneuve-sur-Lot combines historic architecture with a more lively, everyday atmosphere.
It hosts two markets each week (Tuesday and Saturday mornings), both well worth a visit, with stalls spilling into the streets and the covered market hall. A riverside path follows the Lot through the town, where stone bridges, old facades and quiet bends in the river create a calm contrast to the bustle of the centre. In summer, you can rent a canoe or small boat and drift along the river, passing beneath bridges and alongside the town’s historic buildings as the landscape slowly opens up around you.
Pujols
Pujols is a small but beautiful hilltop village overlooking Villeneuve-sur-Lot and is officially listed among the “Most Beautiful Villages of France”.
It is known for its peaceful atmosphere and colourful flower displays that decorate the streets and terraces, especially in spring and summer.
A short walk through the medieval lanes leads to several viewpoints over the valley, making it a perfect quiet stop combined with Villeneuve-sur-Lot.
Tournon-d’Angenais
This circular bastide sits high above the valleys of the Lot-et-Garonne and is known for its wide, open views.
A short climb up the central tower rewards you with panoramic scenery over the surrounding countryside. Tournon-d’Agenais also lies on a quiet scenic route between the Lot Valley and Monflanquin, ideal for a relaxed afternoon drive.
Cancon
Surrounded by orchards and farmland, Cancon offers a more rural and authentic glimpse of the region.
It is a peaceful stop on a scenic driving route through walnut and fruit-growing countryside, especially beautiful in spring and late summer when the landscape is at its most colourful.
Exploring the bastides is less about ticking off places and more about connecting the routes between them—driving quiet country roads, stopping at markets, and discovering how each village fits into the landscape of southwest France.
