Cruising through the locks on the Lot river

ecluse, lock

As far as summer jobs go, growing up in France, being a lock keeper was my favourite. I was an ‘éclusier’ or lock keeper for several summers in Champagne, France, assisting barges through the middle of Champagne’s vineyards in Tours sur Marne and Mareuil sur Ay. A lock keeper’s job was to ensure smooth travelling of barges and the upkeep of its surroundings. Some ecluse are beautifully kept and sometimes the eclusier would sell fresh vegetables or fruits to barge owners or tourists going through the locks. The very large commercial locks are all automated now, however the smaller tourist locks on small canals or rivers, remain manual for the fun and experience of those travelling by peniche (houseboat).

When we cruised on the Lot river, they were all manual locks as there was no commercial traffic. Whether going downstream (‘avalant’ is the French technical term) or upstream (‘montant’) the process is the same, you need to close the lock and level the lock with your boat by either emptying the lock or filling it up. You use the sluice gates to do that which are handled by cranks usually located on the gates. Once done, you open the gate and move your boat inside, then close the lock, empty the lock or fill it up depending if you are going downstream or upstream respectively. Usually you release the sluice gates slowly during that process until the lock is half full or half empty to avoid having the boat rocking all over the chamber. It is highly recommended to have somebody inside the boat using a rope to control it inside the lock. Once the lock is levelled, it is time to open the gate and be on your way for more fun and more locks…

Lock, ecluse

Lock, ecluse

Opening the lock gates

Crank

Preparing the Locks

Cockpit

Ecluses, lock

Towpath

house on the Lot river

house on the Lot river

Cruising on the Lot river

house on the Lot river

Village by the river

Village by the Lot river

One of the most beautiful village in France – Saint Cirq Lapopie

Saint Cirq Lapopie

France is made of more than 32,000 villages, some are more beautiful than others. The prettiest villages are a part of an association called: “the most beautiful villages in France”. Saint Cirq Lapopie is one of them. It was also voted the favourite French village back in 2012! We visited Saint Cirq Lapopie while traveling on a péniche (houseboat) in the South West of France in the Lot département in the Midi Pyrenees region. Saint Cirq Lapopie is about 30km east of Cahors in the Quercy national park.

Nested atop a cliff, perched 100m above the Lot river, the medieval village architecture is outstanding. The castle ruins built as a fortress dates back from the 12th century onwards and the romanesque church from the 15th century. The houses date back from the 14th century and some were built with part of the castles as the 100 hundred years’ war was raging. Saint Cirq Lapopie has been shared between different feudal families; Lapopie, de Gourdon and de Cardaillac. The village is known for its rich artisans heritage; tanners, wood-turners and cauldron makers.

Many French artists and writers such as Andre Breton and Man Ray took residence in Saint Cirq Lapopie and has many art galleries worth a visit.

Saint Cirq Lapopie

House Saint Cirq Lapopie

Church Saint Cirq Lapopie

Saint Cirq Lapopie

Saint Cirq Lapopie

ecluse, lock

Saint Cirq Lapopie

View from Saint Cirq Lapopie

View from Saint Cirq Lapopie

View from Saint Cirq Lapopie

Saint Cirq Lapopie

Saint Cirq Lapopie

View from Saint Cirq Lapopie

Rusty door Saint Cirq Lapopie

Church Saint Cirq Lapopie

Church Saint Cirq Lapopie

Church Saint Cirq Lapopie