© Dirk de Boer 2002-2006
Célé (France)On this page you will find an impression of our canoe trip on the Célé in the summer of 2002 . The Célé is a small river that flows over large parts under overhanging trees, touching each other from side to side. It flows trough a deep valley with marvelous cliffs. It has numerous tiny rapids and nice places to swim. We
paddled the river from Figeac, to the junction with the Lot. From there
we went upstream to St Cirq Lapopie. This is a beautiful part of the Lot
with some old self service locks, that can also be used by canoeists.
From here we took the bus back to Figeac, to pick up our car.
Home page / Map / Further reading / Close photo album
|
||
|
| ||
![]() |
| We found
two descriptions of the Célé. Both mentioning enormous amounts of
garbage, car wracks etc., along the
first trail of this trip. Luckily the mess was cleaned up
and we found a nice clean river wandering through the
landscape.
|
![]() |
| Near
Camboulit was our first campsite: "La belle Époque". From here you have a nice view over the valley and the village on the other site on the hill. We admired the silence, one of the few places where you only hear the rustle of the wind. To enjoy all of this we had to pull the canoe over an steep track leading to the campsite. And of course next day down the same track with an heavy loaded canoe. |
![]() |
| The first
cliffs showed up near the watermill of Bullac.
|
![]() |
| View from an old
stone bridge high above the river. The few cars that passed
the bridge stopped in the middle to look at the river below. Next couple of backpackers
passing the brigde, for the rest
we remained the only players in the scene. |
![]() |
| It's
evident that this nice little stream isn't that quiet and peaceful all
year round.
|
![]() |
| Near Ste
Eulalie, a beautiful reconditioned mill with a big dry
dam. Time to repack our canoe after we pulled it over.
|
![]() |
| Brengues:
The first campsite with a stone beach along the river. French kids with a snake in a bottle (a few times folded). Big trees for our hammock. A small bar with live accordion music and on Thursday evening fresh baked pizza. |
![]() |
| High and
warm.
|
![]() |
| Marcilhac; Lemonade and cookies. From this campsite it was
easier to do your shopping's by canoe than to walk to the village
along the road. Marcilhac has an old monastery.
|
![]() |
| Practicing the canoe slide of Marcilhac with an unloaded boat. Afterwards
we took a swim with our life-jackets.
|