Leisure activities around gite holiday home in rural SW France, Catus village near Cahors, the Lot south west France

Chez Ming is a comfortable self catering gite holiday home in the charming medieval village of Catus near Cahors in the Lot, South West France. We are close to major tourist sites of the south and SW - in the Dordogne, Lot & Garonne, Aveyron, Tarn & Garonne, Correze - and only 2-3 hours drive to the Pyrenees and the mountains of the Cantal. You are invited to browse through our pages to discover what we at Chez Ming and this lovely area of South-West France have to offer to make yours a memorable and enjoyable holiday.

LEISURE ACTIVITIES in and around Catus

In and around Catus there is much to see and do. The local tourist office in Catus is very helpful for information. There is a selection of brochures in the gite and your British/French hosts Eddie and Michele will be happy to help you with more information should you require it.

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Catus has some interesting alleyways, buildings and other architectural features that point to its medieval origins and heyday in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The large 11-12th century priory and church are of much architectural and historical interest as are some of the other buildings/structures around. There are many short walks in the vicinity of Catus from which you can enjoy views of the village and the surrounding countryside. Have a look at Chez Ming on Google Map for a plan of the area in and around Catus.

The Lac Vert is a large leisure lake 1Km from Catus. The lake has swimming, boating(no engines!!), fishing, childrens' playground, tennis (we can lend you rackets and balls) and other sporting facilities. It is an ideal spot for picnics, has a restaurant and café and public washing and toilet facilities. There are many short walks in the low-lying hills around.

Boats, canoes and kayaks can be hired all along the Lot, Dordogne, Aveyron and other main rivers in the region. Safaraid is one of the largest canoe-hire companies in the area. Many of the leisure lakes hire out canoes and pedalos.

Cycling is permitted on many of the rambling pathways and on the roads motorists respect the rights of cyclists. A number of places in the region have cycles to hire. Check out Bike-a-Lot.

Rambling is a very popular activity and a great way to enjoy the beautiful countryside, so make sure that you pack some walking gear in your luggage. The local tourist offices have leaflets on walks and there are a few in the gite. Your hosts Eddie and Michele can also provide you with details, including sketch maps, of walks in and around Catus and the Lot department and beyond. Check out the links to Les Chemins Verts (the Catus rambling association), Walks in and around Grand Cahors and Promenades et Balades en Quercy for more information.

Horse-riding is catered for by a number of equestrian centres. The Ferme Equestre du Crabol is a short 15-minute walk from Chez Ming. For information on other stables in the area have a look at Cheval Lot and Centre Equestre Cahors et Lot.

Fishing is a popular sport and past-time in the lakes and waterways of the region. The fishing season is from early Spring to Autumn. A fishing licence can be purchased from the local tobaconist in the village. For more information on fishing in the area check out the Guide to Fishing in the Lot.

Other activities in the region include adventure playground, paragliding, rock climbing and caving. Check out the activities link on Lot Tourisme and the Bureau Sports Nature web sites.

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