Figeac, located in the East of the Lot, has its origins in the monastery which grew on the banks of the river Célé in medieval times. The monks created a system of canals which led to the establishment of mills and tanneries.

In the early 14th Century Philip the Fair took control of the town which was allowed to mint its own currency leading to great prosperity for a while. As happened elsewhere, the Hundred Years War and the Wars of Religion devastated the town and later, during the 19th Century, the mills and tanneries declined.

Hôtel de la Monnaie

Now a commercial town, it has a rich heritage of fine buildings which are well worth seeing, not least being the 13th Century Hôtel de la Monnaie which also happens to be the Tourist Information Centre.