Which ever route you take into Vic Fezensac you’ll enjoy the scenery, through the undulating patchwork that constitutes the Gascony hills, with the Pyrenees to your south and fields of sunflowers, cultivated wild flowers, sweet corn and the occasional duck.
Explore Vic Fezensac
It’s too easy to overlook this historic town, but if you head straight up to the high street in the centre of Vic Fezensac you will be greeted with a warm welcome, and given the chance to sample the local delicacies.
The obsession for traditional cuisine in France starts here with an array of specialist epiceries offering some of the best Armanac and Fois Gras the Gers has to offer, all exquisitely gift wrapped with chic gold bows.
Vic Fezensac is a market town, with traditional colombage buildings interspersed with crepi or concrete facades and illuminated Tabac signs, a market area with stunning French stone arches surrounding the once quaint square that now serves as a car park, with bandstand in the middle!
The town lays dormant in the winter months, with the onset of spring bringing a wealth of culture, tradition and festivals.
To understand Vic Fezensac, you need to appreciate its history – “Vic” being “a village without walled protection”. Over time its history has been chipped away, and modern society too has done it no favours, but look hard and you’ll discover some hidden gems.
The Saint–Pierre Church is an architectural mish mash originally constructed in the 12th century and is one of those landmarks that tells the test of time, partly destroyed in the Wars of Religion of the 16th Century, the church was restored with a new bell tower “twice”, the first being too small.
Festivals and fêtes in Vic Fezensac
Perhaps it’s the years of living without walled protection, or simply the nature of the village, but if there’s ever an excuse for a party, it happens here.
The year starts with Pentecost weekend, when thousands of visitors swarm the streets for the famous bullfighting, admittedly it doesn’t appeal to everyone’s taste, but the carnival atmosphere engulfs the town with bars and restaurants playing live local music staying open until the early hours of the morning.
In July the Latin beat of Salsa grips the town with over three days of constant partying, by night the streets are strewn with colour, rhythm and dance, when morning comes, they’re sweeping up the debris and preparing for the next onslaught, this is a carefully managed and wonderfully orchestrated display of unity, with a cosmopolitan feel and rhythm to tap your feet to!
Vic Fezensac is best known in the region for its evening markets on the last 2 Wednesdays of July, and the first two of August. More than 150 stall holders cram the narrow streets, with traditional French traders selling their home baked goods. The bandstand finally comes into its own, competing with the band on the next corner playing traditional Basque numbers.
From confit (duck) to an old fashioned cassoulet, it’s an evening of temptation offering some of the finest cuisine in France. Pause for a locally produced saucisson, Floc de Gascogne or Armanac, whilst lapping up the traditional French ambience that Vic Fezensac has to offer.
Attractions nearby
When there is not a festival or market visitors can enjoy the tranquility of the Gascony region and countryside around Vic Fezensac.
To the east of the town you can visit the village at Lavardens, and to the north there is a group of villages including Montreal-du-Gers, Larressingle and Fources that together make for a lovely day excursion.
You can find more travel ideas in the Gers guide and the Midi-Pyrenees guide.
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Map of Vic Fezensac and places nearby
Visit near Vic Fezensac with France This Way reviews
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Valence-sur-Baise guide
Lavardens
The castle and the church are among the places of interest in the small village of Lavardens
Lavardens guide
Cathedral Saint-Luperc, Eauze
The Cathedral Saint-Luperc is a 16th century cathedral in Eauze, in the style Gothic Meridionale
Cathedral Saint-Luperc, Eauze guide
Larressingle
Larressingle is a perfect medieval fortified village, with the defensive walls around the town still almost completely intact
Larressingle guide
Montreal-du-Gers
After exploring the picturesque village at Montreal-du-Gers you can visit the Roman Villa of Seviac nearby
Montreal-du-Gers guide... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Gers
Address: Vic-Fezensac, Auch, Midi-Pyrenees, 32190, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 43.7594, longitude 0.304167
Plan your visit to Vic Fezensac, Gers
Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby
- Ordan-Larroque: ville fleurie 4* (15 km)
- Beaumont sur l'Osee pont d'Artigues (monuments on French pilgrim routes): heritage site (19 km)
- Larressingle: most beautiful village (21 km)
- Montreal-du-Gers: most beautiful village (23 km)
- Palmeraie du Sarthou: remarkable garden (23 km)
- Blaziert: ville fleurie 4* (24 km)
- Auch cathédrale St Just (monuments on French pilgrim routes): heritage site (26 km)
- Fources: most beautiful village (27 km)
- La Romieu Collegiale St Pierre (monuments on French pilgrim routes): heritage site (29 km)
- Jardin et arboretum de Coursiana: remarkable garden (29 km)
- Lectoure: recommended detour (32 km)
- Nerac: secteur sauvegarde (42 km)
Market days in Vic Fezensac, France
Regular market(s) are held in Vic Fezensac each Friday all day. (Markets are held in the morning unless stated.)
The French version of this page is at Vic Fezensac (Francais)