Cahors

Cahors, town in Midi-Pyrénées, southern France, capital of the Lot Department, on a rocky peninsula formed by a bend in the Lot River, in Quercy. It is an agricultural and manufacturing centre producing processed food, wine, and leather. Truffles, nuts, and fruit are grown in the surrounding region. Points of interest in the city include the Cathedral of Saint-Étienne (12th to 15th century), with fine cupolas; Roman and medieval ruins; and the Pont Valentré, an old fortified stone bridge spanning the River Lot.

Before the Romans conquered the area in the 1st century bc, the town was a capital of the Cadurci. Under the Romans it was known as Divona and later, in the 3rd century ad, as Cadurcum. It was subsequently captured by the Visigoths and by Muslim invaders of Europe. In the 13th century Cahors became an important financial centre. Pope John XXII, who was born here, founded the University of Cahors in the early 14th century; it was merged into the University of Toulouse in 1751. Population 20,003 (1999).