Fiasco for France's 'favourite village': Stunning hamlet is besieged by tourists after winning prestigious awards

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Picturesque: Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, which is perched above a 100ft cliff, is now besieged with visitors

A French hamlet crowned France's favourite village should be rather pleased with itself for winning such a prestigious award.
But some locals in Saint-Cirq-Lapopie (population 217) are in revolt because it is now besieged - by tourists.
The medieval village, 20 miles east of Cahors in south west France, is perched on a steep cliff 100ft above a river. In the Middle Ages, feudal rulers, Richard the Lionheart and religious fanatics were repelled by its stout defences.

Tourist spot: Saint-Cirq-Lapopie was crowned France's favourite village in a TV award

But today its tourist office has been almost overrun. 'The sudden increase in visitors has taken us a bit by surprise, not that I'm complaining,' said office chief Clare.
The restaurants are full and visitors regularly queue at the ice-cream shop. Sophie Darrieux, who runs a gift shop is delighted with the village's success.
She told the Guardian: 'As a businesswoman, the more people the better. In any case, with tourism it's all or nothing. Either visitors come or the village is dead.'
Before the TV award last month, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie was already on the 'must-see' tourist trail, with about 400,000 summer visitors, most of them French.

Medieval hamlet: There are just 217 inhabitants of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie whose defences repelled the forces of Richard the Lionheart

The village is doing its best to keep out the 21st century with no satellite dishes, TV aerials, or neon lights on public display to spoil the historic look of the hamlet.
Cars, coaches and caravans arriving at the rocky escarpment are sent to one of six car parks a short walk – or shuttle ride – away.
There are still the remains of two ancient gates at either end of the village, named after the child martyr Saint Cyr, and La Popie, one of the feudal dynasties that ruled in the Middle Ages

When closed Saint-Cirq-Lapopie kept out most of its enemies, including Richard the Lionheart who tried vainly to enter without success in 1199.
During the hundred years war in the 14th and 15th centuries, the village changed hands often, leading to one hidden entrance being named La Porte des Anglais.

source: dailymail