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Gascony, France travel guide

photo of Gascony

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The Gers department of France is located in the heart of the Midi-Pyrenees region, south of the Lot-et-Garonne (Aquitaine) and north of Haute-Garonne and the Hautes-Pyrenees.

For purposes of tourism the ancient name of Gascony is used more widely than Gers. Gascony was historically the region of France that covered most of the area to the south-west of a line joining Bordeaux, Agen and Toulouse - ie the western part of the modern Midi-Pyrenees, and the coastal section of Aquitaine.

The name Gascony was officially abandoned following the Revolution, but the Gers department has used the name widely for itself for travel purposes - so for this travel guide the names Gers and Gascony are treated as the same thing although this is not strictly correct.

The Gascony region is one of rolling countryside, of low-key agriculture and fields of sunflowers, of quiet roads and peaceful moments. It is an ideal destination for enjoying unspoiled countryside and for relaxing away from the tourist crowds, with its fair share of castles, attractive villages and unspoiled market towns to visit

The population destiny is very low and the quality of life very high - in part due to the high standard and reputation of the local produce, including foie gras and local cheeses.

The largest towns in the department include Auch, centrally located and the 'capital' of the Gers department, and Condom and Fleurance both north of Auch. The name of the town Condom causes such amusement to overseas visitors that the town has opened a museum celebrating contraception, although there is no real historical link with the town!

Also in northern Gascony: visit the party town of Vic-Fezensac and Lectoure the lively market town. The cluster of classified most beautiful villages that includes Montreal-du-Gers - see the Roman Villa-de-Seviac while visiting - also Fources and Larressingle (a mini version of Carcassonne) makes for one of the highlights of a visit to Gascony, and nearny Lavardens is an attractive village and castle on a hilltop.

Larressingle, Gascony, midi-pyrenees
Larressingle / Flaran Abbey

Among the other places to visit are:

Marciac (south-west) is home to a famous annual jazz festival
the bastide towns of Saint-Clar, Gimont, Bassoues, Masseube, Mirande, Miélan, Plaisance, Valence each have their own attractions
pretty village at Simorre (south-east) and its fortified church
Sarrant (north-east), and the walled town of La Romieu (north)
The Flaran abbey and cloisters (north-east) at Valence-sur-Baise.
Eauze (west), the 'capital of Armagnac' has a historical centre
the village of Castelnau d'Auzan (west) is in a very picturesque setting
castles at Cassaigne, Avezan and Cazaux-Savès, Miramont-Latour, Plieux, Saint-Puy (Monluc); Busca-Maniban...

Gascony pilgrims

In many places in the department you will come across mention of the pilgrim paths to Santiago de Compostela - keep an eye out for carved stone shells above doorways in particular, which marks the medieval routes.