What to do in the Gers in autumn?

It's the end of summer and you already want to plan your next autumn vacation? What if you go to the Gers? To tempt you a little, we reveal our 10 best ideas for enjoying the beautiful days of the late season in the Gers. Rain or shine, it doesn't matter! You'll see, it's impossible to get bored in the Gers in autumn.

Opening photo: The village of Barran in Autumn - Photo credit © Cécile Art / AdobeStock

1) Discover the Camino de Santiago in the Gers

The Gers has a history particularly marked by spirituality. Since the Gallo-Roman occupation, sites dedicated to ancient cults have been installed there, along the Gers. Then Christian religious communities were founded, marking out this territory with stages towards Compostela. Even today, the Gers is on the main pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. The essential stages in the Gers are:

• Flaran Abbey
• Discovery of the episcopal city of Condom
• Visit La Romieu, a legendary village…
• A break in Éauze, a charming town of pilgrims…
• Visit Montréal-du-Gers, on the Ways of Santiago de Compostela

2) Visit Auch, the capital of the Gers

Auch is much more than an administrative capital. Its history can be read on the walls of its beautiful monuments and its historic center really deserves a visit. Crossed by the Gers river, it is surrounded by natural spaces and dotted with beautiful gardens, for very pleasant nature breaks in all seasons.

3) Dream in the castles of Gers

The Gers is a fertile and rich region. It has been highly coveted through the centuries. Many lords sought to conquer this land and built impressive castles there. Over time, some have remained in their own juice, others have evolved into sumptuous “Renaissance” style residences.

• Larressingle Medieval Siege Camp
• Dungeon of Bassoues
• Tour of Termes d'Armagnac
• The two castles of Caumont, one medieval and the other in the “Renaissance” style from the 16th century.

4) Discover the typical bastides of the Gers

The bastides are typical of Lomagne, in the Gers. Built on the old “Castelnaux”, castle mounds, overhung by a defense tower, they are significant of Gascon architecture from the Middle Ages to the 12th century. We have visited the most beautiful Gers country houses for you:

• Visit Fleurance in 3 emblematic places
• Visit the circular bastide of Fourcès, jewel of Armagnac
• Listen to the guide and discover the bastide town of Monfort
• Mauvezin: Discovery walk between upper town and lower town

5) Discover the history and traditions of the Gers in museums and tourist sites

The Gers is a region steeped in tradition, in a rural environment with an authentic atmosphere. It offers you the opportunity to take the time to recharge your batteries, surrounded by nature. But it also has a heritage, steeped in a very long history.

• Elusa: Ancient Capital, visit a Gallo-Roman Domus!
• The d'Artagnan Museum

• The Artist's Museum
• Archaeological Museum of the Treasure of Eauze
• Cork and Cork Museum

6) Stroll through the most beautiful Gers villages

The Gers is very popular with lovers of old stones, for its many castles of course, but also for its very old villages and towns. Most have been able to preserve over time a small charming heritage with chapels, washhouses, fountains... In addition, the region is emblematic of the Ways of Santiago de Compostela and has a very interesting religious heritage. We advise you:

• The visit of Sarrant, one of the most beautiful villages in France
• Lavardens, ranked among the “Most beautiful villages in France”
• Visit Larressingle, the little Carcassonne in the Gers
• Discovery of Lupiac, the city of d'Artagnan
• Visit Lectoure: from the Roman city of Lectora to blue craftsmanship!

7) Taste the gastronomy of the Gers

The Gers benefits from fertile soil and nature is generous there. After the abundant summer harvests, autumn offers more delicate and rare flavours: porcini mushrooms and other mushrooms, truffles, foie gras... It's an ideal time for gourmands and especially gourmets! We have selected a few addresses that will delight your taste buds:

• The Crow's Feet Farm
• The 2 gourmet wings for its chickens and fat ducks
• Butchery Cugini Eauze
• The Safranière The House of Ninan

8) Visit the Armagnac cellars

Autumn is harvest season and the Gers is a renowned wine region. In the vineyards, you can learn about oenology and taste delicious beverages, which go wonderfully with the generous dishes of the Gers. But the Gers terroir has another delicacy to discover: Armagnac! To finish off a hearty, gourmet meal, there's nothing like a digestive, to be savored in moderation, of course... Here are our favorite areas to better appreciate Armagnac:

• An excellent and daring Armagnac: Château Arton
• Château de Salles: harvesting winegrowers and producers of Armagnac
• Domain of Joy

9) Hike in the Gers forests

Hiking is a topical sport in the fall. The days of the late season are still very beautiful in the south, but much less hot than in summer. The trees are adorned with glowing colors and offer breathtaking panoramas. The Gers is a hilly country, criss-crossed by rivers and covered with forests. You will find many hiking routes there. Our advice for walks in the Gers:

• Sarrant: Bucolic stroll along the “Sentier des dovecotes”
• Domain of Embidoure
• Roquefort: the loop of castles (fr)
  

10) Take a tour of the Gers by bike

To visit the Gers, in "slowtourism" mode, there's nothing like getting on a bike. Thus, you will cover greater distances and you will enjoy the landscape, during your journeys to the tourist sites. The terrain is easy, even for families with children. Our favorite cycling routes are:

• In the footsteps of the Counts of Armagnac (fr)
  
• Vic-Fezensac via the Route D'Artagnan (fr)
  
• Auch - Pessan by bike (fr)
  
• Historical and natural heritage north of La Romieu (fr)
  

We hope that this top 10 will allow you to take full advantage of your autumn stay in the Gers.

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