Saint-Étienne Cathedral, its Cloister & the 25 "Secret Gardens"
UNESCO-listed masterpiece and small medieval gardens hidden in the alleyways
A 4-minute walk from the building, open the door of Saint-Étienne Cathedral to discover its flamboyant Gothic cloister, its Archidiaconé garden and the walk of the 10 Secret Gardens.
The Cathedral with two domes and its luminous Cloister
Built from the 11th century onwards and listed by UNESCO as part of the Santiago de Compostela routes, Saint-Étienne Cathedral surprises with its two immense Byzantine-inspired domes (18 meters in diameter!) painted with medieval frescoes and its carved Romanesque north portal. Do not miss the flamboyant Gothic Cloister (15th century) accessible for free through the right nave: it opens directly onto the peaceful courtyard of the Archidiaconé.
The walking route of the 10 "Secret Gardens" of Cahors
This is one of the prettiest features of Cahors: scattered in inner courtyards, narrow lanes and at the foot of the ramparts (several of which are all around rue du Château du Roi!), 25 small medieval-inspired themed gardens can be visited free of charge. Our favorite: the Garden of the Witch and the Dragon (near the Barbican, 3 minutes from the building), and the Garden of Intoxication dedicated to the Malbec grape variety, facing Pont Valentré.
Cathedral, Cloister and Secret Gardens: free admission every day (generally from 08:30 to 18:30 / 19:00).
Follow the small gilded bronze studs sealed in the cobblestones of Old Cahors: they connect the Secret Gardens to each other like a treasure hunt through the alleyways.