Lot is a department in the southwest of France named after the Lot River.
History
Lot is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. It was created from part of the province of Languedoc. In 1808, some of the original southeastern cantons were separated from it to form the department of Tarn-et-Garonne. It originally extended much farther to the south and included the city of Montauban.
Geography
Lot is part of the region of Midi-Pyrénées and is surrounded by the departments of Corrèze, Cantal, Aveyron, Tarn-et-Garonne, Lot-et-Garonne, and Dordogne.
Communes in Lot
For a full list, see Communes of the Lot department. Settlements in the Lot include:
- Cahors - a large town known internationally for its production of Cahors wine
- Figeac - a medieval town where Champollion, the first translator of Egyptian hieroglyphics, is born
- Frayssinet-le-Gélat - a small village close to Prayssac
- Prayssac - a town of approximately 3,000 residents
