Beauregard is a commune in the Lot region of Occitania, 40 km south-east of Cahors, on the edge of the Tarn-et-Garonne.
Located on the old Roman road that led from Cahors to Rodez, the village hitherto composed of a few farms and fortified houses is actually founded at the end of the thirteenth century when King Philip IV the Bel and the Abbot of Marcilhac (in the nearby Célé Valley) agree to create a country house. Like all the "new cities" created at that time in the South-West, its checkerboard plan is composed of streets drawn with a line converging towards a central square.
This heritage legacy has remained preserved. The activity remained mainly pastoral (sheep and goat breeding), with some truffle producers. Labeled "Village starry" because of the clarity of its night sky that delight lovers of astronomical observation, village-stage on one of the busiest Saint-Jacques, Beauregard has only about 240 inhabitants (one until 900 in the nineteenth century) but its rich and pleasant heritage as its environment make it an interesting stage during a stay in the Lot, near major tourist sites such as Saint-Cirq-Lapopie.
The picturesque and the charm of the bastide make the town a jewel of heritage, mostly protected as historical monuments.
A discovery of the village in the name that has nothing usurped can begin with its hall in the center of the main square. It dates from the fifteenth century, and its powerful frame is covered with slate. It was classified as early as 1922, like a stone cross (Calvary) nearby.
The belfry, he continues to dominate all, as it was originally.
To see then, on the road of Varaire, the castle of Marsa, inscribed in 1979: its present face essentially dates from the XVIIe century but it was reworked on bases previous (XIIIe and XVe): thus, the body of The main building of classic style and its two wings are recent, but the square tower that flanks the castle to the northeast must date from the 13th century and the south-east wing still bears the trace of machicolations laid out in the 15th century. The property is private and can not be visited. Adjoining the building, there is a beautiful example of "butterfly" style washhouse: it has sloping slabs facing each other in the shape of a "V". A specificity of Quercy...
On the other hand, the old bastide is distinguished by the fact that the church has remained outside the historic enclosure: dedicated to Notre-Dame de l'Assomption, it adjoins the cemetery and the presbytery. The foundations of the church go back to the 12th century, but it was rebuilt in the 19th century. On the religious level again, a chapel dedicated to Saint-Laurent is erected several kilometers from the village.
On the territory of the town, but still outside the historic perimeter of the bastide, a dovecote, gariottes or cazelles (shepherds' shelters where once the shepherds could shelter from bad weather or even spend the night) are visible. Just like several dolmens attesting to a human presence before our era, as in the wood of Escures.
Whether it is the causse long occupied by the herds or some wooded areas of the locality, the landscape of the territory allows to consider many hikes. The most famous of the routes is that of the GR46 linking Tours to Toulouse via Rocamadour, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie but also... Beauregard where he then enters the Tarn-et-Garonne.
Other paths allow to reach Limogne-en-Quercy or to approach the Lot valley. Maps and information on +33 5 65 31 50 08 or +33 5 65 24 34 28.
At the discretion of these walks, who knows, you will notice some truffle oaks.
Finally, the locality being a member of the Regional Natural Park of Causses du Quercy, do not hesitate to contact +33 5 65 24 20 50 to know the program of the animations, exhibitions, workshops, thematic hikes regularly organized on the themes of the environment and heritage.