Leaving directly from our house, you can enjoy many pleasant walks, starting with Cutxan village and its brick-built fortified church, with a very interesting octagonal steeple. Continue on to the banks of the Douze, where you can see the remains of the old Marguestau mill.
Within a radius of ten kilometres there are numerous tourist sites and cultural, sporting and gastronomic activities and events. Here is a selection :
Eauze, the prosperous city Elusate
Eauze, today the capital of Armagnac, was, in the 3rd and 4th centuries, the prosperous Elusates capital of the Roman province of Novempopulania (the province of Nine Peoples). Many vestiges of the Gallo-Roman era bear witness to the town’s glorious, sometimes turbulent, past : www.elusa.fr
In the museum, you can view the treasure discovered locally in 1985, including 28,000 3rd century Gallo-Roman coins. For golfing enthusiasts, the 18-hole Guinlet golf course, open all year, offers a hilly and wooded course.
Cazaubon, a picturesque village
Cazaubon, a picturesque village, home to the Barbotan les Thermes spa and the Uby Lake
in a nearby wooded valley. With a recreational swimming pool, paddling pool,
loungers and sun umbrellas, a fine sandy beach with lifeguards
and a pontoon for lake swimming, pedaloes and canoes… everything for young and old !
Labastide d’Armagnac
Labastide d’Armagnac, in the neighboring Landes, founded in 1291. According to legend, Henri de Navarre became Henri IV inspired the Royal Place of La Bastide where he stayed to build the Place Royale in Paris, now Place des Vosges.
Nogaro
Nogaro, from the latin nogarolium, meaning walnut groves, a town on the St Jacques de Compostelle route. It is home to the famous Paul Armagnac racetrack, where you can enjoy car, motorbike and truck racing or even take a driving lesson. At the Jean Armagnac Aerodrome, you can take your maiden flight in a plane, helicopter or glider… or book an air tour of the region.
http://nogaro-armagnac.fr
www.circuit-nogaro.com
www.aeronogaro.com
Estang
Estang with its magnificent wooden arena, more than a century old, which in summer vibrates to the rhythm of the Courses Landaises, an ancient form of bullfighting plus Bandas music festivals and pétanque and darts competions.
Further afield you will find :
• the fortified village of Larressingle nicknamed ‘the little Carcassonne of Gers’ with its mock medieval camp
http://larressingle.free.fr
• the Séviac Gallo-Roman villa near Montréal
www.elusa.fr
• the Fourcès circular bastide and its splendid flower market every last weekend of April.
http://www.tourisme-condom.com
• the Cistercian Abbey of Flaran in Valence sur Baïse and its many exhibitions.
www.patrimoine-musees-gers.fr
• the perched village of Lavardens with its fortified château with an interesting historical past, www.chateaulavardens.com
…and many other bastides and villages which warrant a detour.
Villa Séviac à Montréal
La Bastide ronde à Fourcès
La Bastide ronde à Fourcès
Château de Lavardens
Le marché aux fleurs à Fourcès
Le marché aux fleurs à Fourcès
After your cultural visits, come and take part in the many sporting activities and music festivals on the Gascony calendar:
And you’re probably also visiting the Gers because of its reputation for good food, and you almost certainly won’t say no to a small glass of… Armagnac ! We will be able to pass on our restaurant tips during your stay.
