|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
La Tour de Termes (Termes d'Armagnac, near Riscle) – This is the best preserved castle keep, built in the 13th
century by the Termes family – only the donjon remains, but it's a
beauty. |
|
|
|
| |
|
Inside the keep is the Musee du Panache Gascon, each floor
has rooms with full-size dioramas from the Middle Ages, as well as
traditional life in Gascony. Check out knights in armor, Thibault de Termes
going off to fight in the army with Joan of Arc, musketeers, kings and courtiers,
the garderobe (latrine) and baths, plus scenes from 19th century family
life. At the top of donjon, there are panoramic views of the countryside,
and on a clear day you can see the Pyrenees. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Outside the castle keep are picnic
tables, and a children's playground. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bassoues – Bassoues is worth a stop, not only
because of the 14th century donjon, but the town itself is a super little
"bastide," where people live today. Bastides, fortified villages
from the Middle Ages, have a central square with covered market in the middle,
and stone walls and towers for protection. |
|
|
|
| |
|
Walk through the town to get a feel for the Middle Ages – the covered market in the middle
is still in use, on Saturdays and Sunday's there's a farmer's market. Climb
up the donjon of Bassoues, a 141 foot tower, with walls 6 feet thick.
Inside the tower, check out the each floor reconstructed as living spaces,
with big fireplaces and window seats, sinks and garderobes (latrines). On
top of the castle keep are guard towers in the four corners and a bird's
eye view of the town below. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Auch – |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 St.
Mary's Cathedral (La Cathedrale Sainte Marie D'Auch) – Step into
the cathedral of Auch to see dazzling stained glass windows, masterpieces
of the Renaissance. Eighteen windows by Arnaud de Moles tell the familiar
Bible stories of Mary and Jesus. What's amazing is not only the spectacular
colors, but the stained glass is painted on, and the figures are incredibly
lifelike, portraits of real men and women from the 16th century. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Also, don't miss the carved wooden choir stalls in
the center of the cathedral. 113 different seats, carved from oak over 50
years, each choir stall is decorated above and below with angels, religious
figures, lords and ladies, even the armrests are decorated with griffins,
cherubs, dogs, phoenixes, lions, snakes. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Statue
of d'Artagnan – From the cathedral, walk down the monumental staircase
(L'Escalier Monumental). Midway down, stop to look up to see the Tour d'Armagnac,
this was once a prison. On the steps is a large bronze statue of d'Artagnan
from The Three Museketeers. D'Artagnan was a real person, born in
Gascony in the 17th century, named Charles de Batz-Castelmore, Comte d'Artagnan.
From the statue, explore north or south through old medieval streets, some
of the narrowest streets with steps were used by people to carry water from
the river below to the town above. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Walk
along the River Gers – It's a nice walk on the west side of the
River Gers, from the Pont de Lagarrasic to the Jardin Ortholan, which has
a small playground, benches, flowers and fountains. Little kids can play
in the playground of the Jardin Ortholan, while parents relax
on the benches, and everyone will enjoy a picnic lunch here. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Larressingle – Larressingle will match any kid's
idea of a medieval walled city. Approach the excellently-preserved outer
walls, then walk over a stone bridge (the moat is empty), through the gate
under a guard tower, and enter the fortified town. Inside the walls are
shops, the castle keep (originally an abbey and residence of the Bishops
of Condom) and a super museum. Outside the walls are grassy areas and benches
(the perfect place to picnic). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Musee
La Halte du Pelerin – Life-size dioramas vividly portray
life in Larressingle during the Middle Ages – a workshop for
carding and weaving wool, soldiers guarding the town, pilgrims on their
way to Compostela, the bishop and his clerks at work, peasants preparing
grain, salted meats and fish, food for the winter and to withstand sieges.
Audio tours in English and French provide explanation of each diorama. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Cite
des Machines du Moyen Age" – Outside the walls, at the wooden
palisade, check out weapons of the Middle Ages – trebuchets,
battering rams, siege towers, all set up like a 13th century camp. See fascinating
re-creations and demonstrations of these medieval weapons, as well as other
crafts – blacksmith, stone masons, rope makers, carpenters. Daily during
July and August (daily, except Wednesdays, in other months). A "must
see" for kids who like all that medieval weapon stuff. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Condom – (This town dates back to Roman times,
and the origins of its name are lost.) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Boat
cruise – The River Baise runs right through the center of Condom.
In July and August, from the center of town, at the "Port du Condom,"
pick up a cruise on the river. Chose from a relaxing one and a half hour
cruise that goes down the river, through one lock and back. Or, you can
take a longer cruise, 2 ½ hours, that starts in the town of Valence-sur-Baise
(south of Condom), and chugs up the river to Condom, passing through three
locks (return to Valence-sur-Baise by bus). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Go
to the park – If you arrive in Condom around lunch time, gather
together your picnic supplies, and head down to the city park along the
Baise River, the Base de Loisirs (take Chemin de Gauge to get to
the park). |
|
|
|
| |
|
Here along the river are big wide grassy areas, shade trees, picnic tables, a large playground with slides and climbing
structures, and lots of kids and French families. Walk south along the river
to see an old mill, and a lock in action as boats pass through. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
La Romieu – |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
La
Romieu is a medieval town that started as a village on the pilgrimage route,
and grew up around an important abbey. Step into the bright, airy 14th century Collegiate Church (La Collegiale), and the eight-sided beautifully
painted sacristry, a gem of Gothic architecture. Walk around the Gothic
cloister, and climb up the large tower (Tour de Cardinal) for a great
view of the red roofs of La Romieu town. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
cats of Romieu – According to legend, during the Middle Ages, the
town was so poor, they barely survived the winter, and then rats attacked
the harvest. A village girl, Angeline, secretly kept 20 cats, and her cats
chased the rats from the village, saving the town from disaster. Inspired
by this legend, cat statues are placed all around the square in La Romieu.
Kids can play "I Spy" to spot the cat sculptures, and you might
also see a real cat napping on a warm wall in the sun. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Musee de l'ecole public (Saint-Clar) – In Saint-Clar,
see what a rural French public school was like a century ago. Sit at the
wooden desks in a 1930's classroom and find out what children would have
been studying. Also, visit the teacher's apartment, and check out school
materials, such as a goose feather writing pen, abacus, notebooks. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Lakes for swimming – All around Gers are "leisure
centers" (base de loisirs) – artificial lakes with swimming,
water slides, children's pools, lifeguards, sandy beaches, canoeing, pedal
boating, playgrounds, and picnic areas. Spend an afternoon relaxing at the
lakes at Gondrin, Lectoure, Lupiac, Marciac, Mirande, Plaisance, Saint-Clar,
Thoux-Saint-Cricq. In Mirande, there's also a large waterpark, called Ludina,
with water slides, whirlpools, children's pool, volleyball, ping pong and
grassy areas, snack bar. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Tip: Museums in Gascony often close between noon and
2:00pm, as well as food shops (shop for your picnics before noon). |
