That’s it, you have decided! Your next holiday destination for this summer will be the Gers! You are already preparing mentally your suitcases... Remember to leave a small place inside to bring back presents to your friends, colleagues, granny or neighbours! We suggest 6 good ideas: 3 to be eaten and 3 ... that cannot be eaten!
Let’s start by a special product, the foie-gras! It is real institution in the southwest and if you like this duck or goose speciality, it is impossible not to taste it and bring a souvenir of the Gers. All the food products are traditionally made to an outstanding quality, and the foie-gras is part of it: discover and meet the small producers of the Gersand shop for a quality ethically bred prepared or non prepared foie-gras.
Also called the Porc Noir de Bigorre (Black pig of Bigorre), It is easily recognisable as it is all black (hooves, hair and skin). Sociable and curious, it is well used to farm life . This quality ham is an AP AOC, made in the farms of the regions, salted by hand and with care to retain its special flavour. Matured in natural caves for 2 years, you can bring some home in vacuum packs! When you do your shopping, bring your coolbox to bring it back at home and organise a super aperitif with friends. Ham enthusiasts can bring back a whole ham, to savour slowly with great company.
The garlic is renowned for its strong taste, but it does not mean that all the garlics are equal in flavour and usage. In the Gers, you can find the purple garlic of Cadours, spicy, sweet and soft. There is also the white garlic of Lomagne, more delicate and perfumed. To find them just, go to the markets. We have prepared a list of all the weekly markets to help you find one near your location. You can buy fresh or braided garlic, to preserve it longer. It is an original gift to offer, elegant and useful. Did you know that the garlic has many antiseptic and detoxifying virtues?
In the Gers, on of the local specialities is Armagnac, a distilled brandy matured in oak barrels. From the aperitif to the digestif, it is a quality product with exalting perfumes! Bring back a bottle of Armagnac or its cousin the Floc de Gasgogne, a speciality made with grape juice and Armagnac. For your friends who prefer wine, bring back a good Côtes de Gascogne, a Côtes du Condomois, a Madiran or a Pacherenc. Check our article and the recommendations of our producers and wine shops! For true connoisseurs of wines, find an exceptional gift: in the Vignoble de Saint- Mont, the vines of Sarragachies are the oldest in France! 600 vine plants are listed historic monuments, dating from 1930 and which resisted to the Phylloxera! A beautiful gift to treat yourself or to offer as a gift...
Discover the blue of Lectoure! The pastel, this indigo blue dye made from the plant Isatis Tinctoria, a yellow plant which, with a process of heating and oxidation of its leaves, offers a stunning beautiful colour. The Pastel made the success of the region of Toulouse and the Gascony, its pigments were used to dye clothes, make artist’s supplies and colour some decorative items. Support the local arts and craft industry by bringing back one of these beautiful products to your love ones!
In Lectoure, the famous watch brand Lip has been based there since the beginning of the millenium, in La Manufacture Générale Horlogère. A shop rather unique, which exhibits historic models and other more modern models of these watches developed since 1867 and which show the time to many great men, such as De Gaulle, Churchill and Mermoz. Go through the door of the shop, beautiful displays can be discovered that go beyond the simple pleasure of seeing these jewels!