Carennac
Carennac, France
A quiet village on the Dordogne around a priory with a carved Romanesque portal and cloister. Park by the river; the Dordogne here is popular for easy canoe trips.
Carennac lies in the Dordogne valley below the Causse plateau and is one of the “Plus Beaux Villages de France”. The village is first mentioned in 937; in 1040 the Bishop of Cahors gave it to the Abbey of Cluny, which founded a priory with the Romanesque church of Saint-Pierre. The tympanum of the portal, from the mid-12th century, shows Christ in a mandorla with the symbols of the Evangelists and the Apostles below.
One gallery of the cloister dates from the late 11th century, the other three, in the Flamboyant style, from the late 15th century. A life-size stone Entombment group is also worth seeing. The future archbishop Fénelon was dean here from 1681 to 1685. One to two hours is enough for the church, cloister and a walk round the village; check opening times beforehand (as of October 2026).
- Nearest town
- Carennac, France
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 44.9160, 1.7340
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, July–August and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- France: Motorway tolls. Tolls on most autoroutes; the limit drops to 110 km/h in rain. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
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Campsites nearby
- Aire Camping-Car Park de TauriacMotorhome stopover3 km from Carennac · 67 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Camping La PalanquièreCampsite4 km from CarennacTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWi-Fi
- Aire GiracMotorhome stopover5 km from Carennac · 27 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Camping des FalaisesCampsite9 km from CarennacTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWi-Fi
- Camping-Car Park MartelMotorhome stopover10 km from Carennac · 22 pitchesTentsCaravansMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalDogs allowed
- Camping du PortCampsite11 km from CarennacTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
All campsites in France · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Carennac?
Carennac is in Carennac, France, at GPS 44.9160, 1.7340. It is about 8 km from Padirac.
Can you camp near Carennac?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Aire de Stationnement et de Services de Carennac, about 0 km away; within 25 km there are 91 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Carennac?
Carennac is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Lot valley and the Gouffre de Padirac.
What is there to see near Carennac?
Places worth a stop nearby: Gouffre de Padirac (7 km), Autoire (10 km), Rocamadour (16 km) and Sarlat-la-Canéda Old Town (41 km).
When is the best time to visit Carennac?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, July–August and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)