Countryside & Gers Architecture
Known as the daughter of the Pyrenees, the Gers is renowned for its undulating landscape littered in vineyards and sunflower fields. The most beautiful landscapes in the region are near Aignan, Marciac, near Lomagne or Bas-Armagnac often offering impressive views of the Pyrenees.
The Gers is a region committed to the conservation of its natural environment through the City of Energy and Ecological Transitions or associations such as Gascogne Nature Environnement, labeled CPIE Pays Gersois
The local architecture epitomizes the agricultural character of the region with large stone Gascon farmhouses often with colombage facades.
Architectural Heritage
The Medieval town of Auch is the prefecture of the department and historical capital of Gascony. Similarly, the bastide town of Marciac is one of the most remarkable towns in the Gers for its architectural heritage as well as being internationally known for hosting one of the most important Jazz festivals in the world. Since its launch in 1978, the Marciac Jazz festival has hosted musicians such as Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie and Nora Jones.
The Gers is also home to three of the “Most Beautiful Villages in France”.
The medieval city of Larresingle located in the heart of the countryside Gers wine region is made up of a 13th century castle, a 12th century fortified church and medieval houses surrounded by walls.
Also fortified, the bastide town of Montréal du Gers is renowned for its architectural heritage made up of half-timbered houses, arcades and narrow, winding streets.
In the same style, the fortified town of Fourcès, built in a circular around a square previously hosting a castle, constitutes a true architectural work.
Among the remarkable villages of the Gers, is also the town of Condom home to the majestic Saint-Pierre Gothic cathedral as well as Valence sur Baïse, renowned for its traditional Gers architecture where the coatings of the houses, coloured with local earth and sand, recall the nuances of the clay soils of the region.
Local Traditions & Gastronomy
The hospitality and generosity of the locals make the Gers an attractive destination where life is very relaxed and local traditions and gastronomy are very much cherished.
The Gers is full of local products and is particularly renowned for its duck and goose foie gras and its brandy, Armagnac, which can be purchased at Domaine de Joy in Panjas.
For gastronomic experiences, the Puits Saint-Jacques invites you to discover local seasonal cuisine made from tradition and modernity.
Local Culture & Historical Sites
The Cistercian Abbey of Flaran dating from 1151 houses the Departmental Conservation heritage and exhibits works on various themes all year round, from Antiquity to the contemporary era.
Among the most famous museums is the Armagnac museum show casing the production of Armagnac, known as l’eau de vie.
The Eauze archaeological museum exhibits the coins, jewels and precious objects found in October 1985 during a preventive search. The Mirande Fine Arts Museum exhibits Italian, French and Flemish paintings from the 15th to the 19th century. In Lectoure, the Eugène Camoreyt museum exhibits pieces of Gallo-Roman archeology from the region and cult altars from the 2nd and 3rd century. Finally, the Campanaire museum in Isle-Jourdain whose exhibitions concern the production cycle of bells, chimes, cowbells and bells.
Festivals & Leisure
Festivals play an important part of life in the Gers. The small Bastide town of Marciac, is internationally known for hosting one of the most important Jazz festivals, in the world. Since its launch in 1978, the « Jazz in Marciac » festival has hosted many internationally renowned musicians such as Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Nina Simone, Nora Jones and Ray Charles as well as attracting over 200,000 visitors to its annual three-week extravaganza. During the rest of the year, Marciac is a bustling little town with art galleries, artists’ studios, cafés, restaurants and shops surrounding its central market square.
Other annual festivals include, the "Festival of Sky and Space" in Fleurance, the international festival of “Circa” cove in Auch, “Musical nights in Armagnac” or "Lo Rondèu de Castelnau", Occitan dance and culture festival.
The region also has a significant thermal activity thanks to its three resorts located in Castéra-Verduzan, Cazaubon and Lectoure.
