Martel in the Lot, the town with seven towers

The town with seven towers

This little medieval town in the Dordogne Valley is built on the causse which bears its name

Built on the causse which bears its name, Martel is one of the rare towns which does not owe its existence to a castrum or a religious foundation. It was born from a convergence of roads, an ancient North-South axis crossing a West-East axis where the precious salt of the Atlantic and the wine of Aquitaine transited. Martel has become an essential step to discover the Dordogne valley.

© Lot Tourisme - CRT Dominique Viet - www.tourisme-lot.com

A rich merchant town

This privileged position turned Martel into a rich trading town in the early 12th century. At the same time, it became an important staging post on the pilgrim way to Rocamadour. Its coat of arms adorned with three hammers indicates that it was also populated by many craftsmen.

The rise of Martel

France, Lot (46), Vallée de la Dordogne, Martel, les Halles du marché classées aux Monuments Historiques // France, Lot county, Valley of Dordogne, Martel, The Hall country market

Passage sous le musée Uxellodunum - Martel

Martel enjoyed a second period of great prosperity in the 19th century thanks to the trade in truffles.
Nowadays Martel remains an active place, where shops and various events complement a remarkable heritage. Enjoy a stroll around the market on Wednesday and Saturday mornings beneath the superb market hall right in the center of the village.

Village Patrimoine Martelcmalikaturin 00064