A small town in the Occitanie region, Figeac is renowned for its rich historical and cultural past, as well as for its cutting-edge industrial activity. In particular, it is the smallest town in France to have a University Institute of Technology.
The name of Jean-François Champollion is inextricably linked with Figeac. The famous Egyptologist who deciphered the hieroglyphs in 1790 was born here. Today, the house in which he was born is home to the Musée des Écritures du Monde (Museum of World Writing) on Place Champollion.
With its huge sheet of copper pierced by 1,000 characters of writing, the façade of the museum oscillates between ancient history and poetic modernity. The museum tells the fascinating story of writing in human civilisations. Its unique collections take you on a journey around the world, from the Maya to China, via the Mediterranean.
Discover the astonishing Place des Ecritures, just behind the Musée Champollion. At its centre is a gigantic reproduction of the Rosetta Stone designed by the American artist Joseph Kosuth. The monumental black granite work on the ground incorporates 3 types of engraved writing - hieroglyphic, demotic and ancient Greek - which you can tread on with your feet.
As you pass through, admire the medieval courtyard, beautifully surrounded by a Gothic-style gallery and overlooked by terraced gardens planted with Egyptian papyrus.
It is the fruit of a legend. It is said that in the middle of winter in the 8th century, a hawthorn flower indicated the site of the future church to Anastasius, the legendary first abbot of Saint-Sauveur.
The church, built in the 13ᵉ century on the top of a small hill, is undoubtedly the oldest place of worship in the town. It houses a monumental altarpiece dedicated to the Virgin dating from the 17ᵉ century. The largest Baroque altarpiece in the Lot!
Stop for a moment in front of the church for a splendid view of the city's rooftops and its sea of red tiles.
