Autoire is a commune in the Lot department in southwestern France.

The village is set with a backdrop of the dramatic cliffs of the edge of the Causse. These form the Cirque d'Autoire.

Despite being a small village it was once home to the bourgoise of nearby Saint Ceré and so has some very attractive 16 and 17th century houses built in the local honey coloured stone.

The main square in the centre of the village is magnificent with a lovely fountain beautifully decked out in flowers during the summer. The fountain is also decorated with four bronze dolphins from whose mouths the water falls. Around the edges of the square the lovely stone houses are simply charming.

Steep roofs in a brown tile, turrets, colombage houses, mullioned windows - there are lots of attractive features to look out for.

There are several castles and a manor house to see, including the Chateau de Limargue.

Well protected by the Vicomptes of Turenne during the Hundred Years War the village has changed remarkably little during the last 800 years or so.

The 12th century church of Saint Pierre and Saint Paul has a particularly simple and harmonious interior. The church was reconstructed in the 11 and 12th centuries with donations from the Lords of Banze and their coat of arms can be seen above the main entrance. The church was fortified towards the end of the Hundred Years War.

The village boasts several restaurants, one of which has a terrace looking out on to the superb views from the village.

If you are in Autoire at the end of July check out the date of the 'Embrasement des Falaises' which is a huge firework display lighting up the cliffs behind the village. This takes place every year.

Autoire is part of the 'Grand Site Midi-Pyrénées', the "Rocamadour- Vallée de la Dordogne".

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