Cahors, town, southern France, capital of Lot Department, on a rocky peninsula formed by a bend in the Lot River, in Quercy. It is a farm-trade and manufacturing center; products include processed food, liquor, and leather. Truffles, nuts, and fruit are produced nearby. Points of interest in the city include the Cathedral of Saint Étienne (founded 12th century, altered 13th-16th century), notable for its cupolas; Roman and medieval ruins; and the Pont Valentré, an old fortified stone bridge spanning the Lot River.
Before the Romans conquered the area in the 1st century BC, the town was a capital of the Cadurci. Under the Romans it was known as Divona and later (3rd century AD) as Cadurcum. It subsequently was captured by the Visigoths and by Muslim invaders of Europe. In the 13th century Cahors became an important financial center. Pope John XXII, who was born here, founded the University of Cahors in the early 14th century; it was merged into the University of Toulouse in 1751. Population (1999) 20,003.Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
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