The town of Barbaste is located in the Lot-et-Garonne department of Aquitaine, about five kilometres from Nérac, where it sits quietly on the banks of the river Gelise.
This region, known as the Val d'Albret, also incudes the villages of Vianne and Bruch.
Explore Barbaste
France This Way comment: instead of parking in Barbaste village, which is quite busy and not particularly interesting, we suggest you park in the car park beyond the mill and reach the mill and bridge via the short walk along the river side.
The attraction in Barbaste is the 'Moulin des Tours de Barbaste', a fortified mill from the end of the 13th century which dominates the town centre and river bank - because of its four large square towers it looks more like a castle than a mill.
The mill is also known as the Moulin of Henry IV because King Henry IV would sometimes stay here when in the region.
Together with the adjacent 12th century arched stone bridge, these monuments performed an important defensive role for Barbaste in the Middle Ages. The moulin has been taken under the wing of a group of local benefactors and from the 15th June to the 15th September this group, 'The friends of the Moulin des Tours', conduct guided visits during the afternoon.
In between the two bridges of Barbaste there is a nice grassy river bank dotted with picnic tables and so making a great place to stop for a picnic.
Although the area around the bridge and mill is the principle attraction in the town, you will find various other buildings of interest in the surrounding region so stop in the Barbaste Office of Tourism to ask for information.
Barbaste is listed as a 'station verte' town, an award given to towns that provide varied facilities to visitors while preserving the natural environment. Among the activities provided nearby you will find horse-riding, an 18 hole golf course, tennis, canoeing and a leisure centre for children.
Market day is Friday in the town.
Activities near Barbaste
Apart from exploring the villages such as Vianne and Bruch and small market towns in the region such as Nérac, the great forest of the Landes region is close by and many outdoor activities are available.
You will notice that to the west of Barbaste you quickly find yourself in the forests of Landes, while to the east the countryside is typical of Lot-et-Garonne, with woodlands, fields, and colombage houses.
If the peace and quiet is too much for your children the lively amusement park at Parc Walibi near Agen is only 30 kilometres away. If you buy your entry tickets for Parc Walibi in Barbaste tourist office, or one of the other tourist offices in the area, and you get a small discount on the entry price.
You can find more travel ideas in the Lot-et-Garonne guide and the Aquitaine guide.
Photos of Barbaste
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Map of Barbaste and places nearby
Visit near Barbaste with France This Way reviews
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Poudenas
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Fources
Fources, one of the 'most beautiful villages in France' is unusual in being a bastide town that follows a circular layout
Fources guide... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Lot-et-Garonne
Address: Barbaste, Lavardac, Nérac, Aquitaine, 47230, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 44.17, longitude 0.2872
Plan your visit to Barbaste, Lot-et-Garonne
Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby
- Nerac: secteur sauvegarde (6 km)
- Fources: most beautiful village (20 km)
- Walibi Aquitaine: theme park (21 km)
- Eglise de Sainte Marie (Aubiac): religious monument (22 km)
- Larressingle: most beautiful village (25 km)
- Montreal-du-Gers: most beautiful village (26 km)
- Prieuré de Sainte Marie (Moirax): religious monument (26 km)
- Beaumont sur l'Osee pont d'Artigues (monuments on French pilgrim routes): heritage site (26 km)
- Agen cathédrale St Caprais (monuments on French pilgrim routes): heritage site (27 km)
- Jardin et arboretum de Coursiana: remarkable garden (27 km)
- La Romieu Collegiale St Pierre (monuments on French pilgrim routes): heritage site (27 km)
- Ets Latour-Marliac: remarkable garden (30 km)
The French version of this page is at Barbaste (Francais)