Day 1 Thrills and deep relaxation
9.00
Help yourself from the breakfast buffet providing local, seasonal products
10.00
Calling to you as you look out of your bedroom window, at last it's time for you to get to know one of the "Most Beautiful Villages in France". Explore the numerous boutiques which enliven the lanes today, just like the open-fronted shops which once stood here. Go up to the viewpoint to get a fabulous view of the river and valley.
12.30
Time for a break, with a romantic picnic lunch on the grass. Succumb to the temptation of a take-away picnic basket from the St. Cirq Gourmand, and enjoy some real local flavours.
14-17.00
Get rid of the stress of daily life and let relaxation take its place as you give yourself over to the experience of a session of rock climbing for beginners on the cliffs of the Célé valley. Reserve in advance with Kalapca Loisirs.
18.00
Return to the hôtel and take a thoroughly deserved dip in one of the pools, or a swim in the Lot from the beach down below the village of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie.
20.00
Take advantage of the free bus transfer from the hôtel for a delicious meal at the Gourmet Quercynois. Traditional cuisine with a modern touch, generous and genuine.
Day 2 - Take a detour through history
10.00
Choose from 4 destinations, all less than 1 hour's drive from the Hotel le Saint-Cirq. 4 mediaeval towns/villages, each with its distinctive characteristics. Figeac and the Champollion Museum, the bastide (mediaeval new town) of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Najac with its royal castle and Saint-Antonin-de-Noble-Val, gateway to the gorges of the Aveyron. Make sure you go on a market day, to fill your picnic basket with local produce.
15.00
Don't resist the temptation to make a detour via the Château de Cénevières for a guided tour provided by the proprietors. This listed Historic Monument, a luxurious Renaissance stately home, provides a wonderful panorama over the Lot valley. Hear about the history of this family which has owned and lived in the château for the last 200 years.
17.00
Come and be cosseted at the SPA of the HSTC. Remember to reserve your treatment in advance (see link to the list of treatments). Then succumb tot he temptation of a "little nap" and prolong the relaxation…
20.00
The free shuttle bus will take you up for an evening stroll around Saint-Cirq-Lapopie before having dinner on the shady terrace of the La Tonnelle brasserie.
Delicious complete meals on a plate, made from local produce.
Day 3 - Prehistoric or contemporary
9.00
Start your day with a detox session in the Sauna or hammam, and your skin will be radiant, for this day dedicated to beauty and art.
11.00
Art is omnipresent in Saint-Cirq-Lapopie - on your first day whilst exploring the village, you'll have come across artists' galleries and studios. Great names of the 20th C. art world found inspiration here. Follow the trail blazed by PIerre Daura, the Catalan painter and sculptor, André Breton, Henri Martin and Joseph Rignault, visit the Rignault Museum, the house of PIerre Daura or that of André Breton. Have a look around a "brocante" (second-hand/antiques) or a décor boutique (Trouvaille en Quercy in Tour de Faure and Petites Trouvailles in Saint-Cirq-Lapopie) to search out that special artistic "find", whether vintage or contemporary.
13.00
Under a leafy arbour, in a Quercy-style house or with a view over one of the "Most Beautiful Villages in France" - choose your setting to relax over lunch.
15.00
Less than 20 minutes' drive away, art that is more than 25000 years old is on show. Animals painted on the cave walls by our ancestors and strange limestone formations known as concretions, provided by Nature, are to be seen. Plunge into prehistory in the Pech Merle Cave in Cabrerets.
17.30
Return to the hôtel for a swim in the pool and/or a little "snooze". Enjoy the unique view over the mediaeval village, standing high above the valley.
19.30
Make the most of a last quiet moment together in your room. Raid your mini-bar for champagne or local drinks to go with a meal basket ordered from the Saint-Cirq Gourmand.
Take a moment to think about a final excursion on your way home. On the trail of UNESCO World Heritage sites, going northwards visit Rocamadour near the Dordogne valley, a sacred village clinging to the cliff face, and its churches built into the rock. If you're going south, you could visit the episcopal city of Albi with its Toulouse-Lautrec Museum.
20-22.00
Now for a special moment which will remain forever engraved in your memory as a couple : the well-being area or the little Spa reserved for you two alone. Reservation to be made in advance at the reception desk.
