In the Lot department, Mercuès is dominated by its episcopal castle. It stands on a Roman fort dedicated to Mercury, Castrum Mercurii, which gave its name to the village and the hill. As the residence of the Bishops of Cahors, the history of the castle of Mercuès was marked by the Hundred Years' War and the need for protection against the pillagers that ravaged the Quercy region. In 1979, it became the property of a local winegrower, Georges Vigouroux, who created « Malbec » AOC wines and transformed the castle into a hotel with a gourmet restaurant.