Date: 22nd July 2023
Travelled: 70 kms from Espalion to Sainte-Eulalie-d’Olt
Visited: Sainte-Eulalie-d’Olt
Stayed: Sainte Eulalie Aire CC, €11, N44.46450, E02.94970
Budget: 61 days @ €86 per day
We escape the campsite in Espalion to head further east following the Lot. The village summer festival starts in Espalion today and we can already sense it’s going to be a noisy affair, so where glad to be gone.
As we need a supermarket and a laundromat we detour via Rodez. After a stop at the Lidl and the E’Leclerc we have filled the fridge, done a load of washing and picked up some fresh sushi for lunch.
It’s Saturday and there’s lots of traffic, the holidays are on and the French are going places.
Occitania, Metropolitan France, 12130, France
From our guide book the Most Beautiful Villages of France you’ll find Sainte-Eulalie-d’Olt on page 243. Standing on the River Lot, the village has attracted the wealthy and artistic but it was once the home of traditional farming families. The tending of vineyards, making wine, the growing and harvesting of walnuts, were the main commercial enterprises until the late 1960’s.
These days it’s tourism and artisan workshops driven by our guidebook that keep the wheels turning.
Arriving in Sainte-Eulalie-d’Olt we find ourselves a spot in the aire CC. It’s €6 cheaper than the campsite next door. There is no shade but it’s a comfortable 25° today so a bit of sun won’t hurt.
The picture above from the bridge near the aire, looking across the River Lot into the old town.
It’s easy to see why Sainte-Eulalie-d’Olt has made two pages in our guide book, it’s beautiful.
Around every corner another ancient stone wall, freshly painted shutters and flowers, flowers, flowers…
Pictured above, Elm Place. The Elm tree is long gone but in the 16th century this is the place where justice was delivered by the ruling family who as it turns out lived in the château overlooking the Elm. Short walk for some.
Pictured below the Église de Sainte-Eulalie-d’Olt, circa 11th century. The small square somewhat spoilt by the marquee is the Place de Église surprisingly enough.
Sainte-Eulalie-d’Olt is certainly not a touristy village compared to some we have visited, there are only a couple of restaurants, but no tat shops full of wooden swords and plastic helmets.
It is more artisan glass blowing and ceramic cats (goodness knows why). Anyway we’ve walked the village as best we can so we make our way back to the Hymer. I get the Webber out as it’s fish tonight.
Michael + Pam
