Towns and villages of Val d'Adour, Astarac, the natural balcony of the pyrenees

Main towns and villages of the natural balcony of the Pyrenees

The Val d'Adour and Astarac are two natural regions popular with lovers of the Gers. On this balcony of the Pyrenees, explore the valleys and hills that punctuate the landscape to see the magnificent mountain range in the distance. Many rivers and a river, the Adour, meander between the undulations of the ground, rocky and suitable for vines in the north, clayey and adorned with a multitude of lakes in the south. A land of traditions, preserved and far from stress, you will happily practice fishing, hiking or cultural and heritage tourism, always with your belly full of the gastronomic delights of the Gers. The alluvial plain of the Adour is suitable for agriculture and livestock farming, which is one of the main economic resources of this region. In the heart of the southwest, tinged with rural modernity, we know how to party all year round by drawing inspiration from local Gascony traditions such as bullfighting or by inviting musicians from the 4 corners of the world to celebrate Jazz in Marciac. Head in the vines, heart in the middle of rivers and feet in a postcard, long live the natural balcony of the Pyrenees !

Lupiac

Lupiac is the birthplace of the most famous Gascons, Charles de Batz de Castelmore. You don't know him? But yes, it's d'Artagnan ! An emblematic character, he spent his early childhood at the Château de Castelmore, 4 km from Lupiac, cannot be visited, but can be admired before riding throughout France. The neighboring countries in the service of King Louis XIV. His adventures and the story of his life are on display at the Musée d'Artagnan, in the city center. Right next door is the first equestrian statue of the musketeer, made with great talent by Daphnée Du Barry. Take the opportunity to see the Saint-Barthélémy Church in the heart of this oldest fortified castelnau in Gers.

After the heritage visits, head to Lac de Lupiac, completely free, to enjoy its 13 wooded hectares, the sandy beach equipped with games and the activities to discover there: fishing, a canoe-kayak ride and even windsurfing and rowing. The guinguette du Lac, open in the summer, is festive and its restaurant, very friendly. For several years, in mid-August, a large festival "d'Artagnan chez d'Artagnan" has been held where 500 costumed characters animate a splendid historical reconstruction that will please the whole family.

Great discovery of Lupiac, the town of d'Artagnan !

Plaisance-du-Gers

In Piacenza, there is not one, but two arcade squares ! One medieval and the other dating from the city's boom in the 19th century. The church on the square, that of November 11, dates from the middle of the 19th century. It houses a sumptuous and monumental wind instrument, a large organ with 49 stops (rows of pipes) that can be heard singing thanks to a specific device: the sensory organ. It is a very astonishing system of motion sensors and accessible to all. Built in 1988, it required more than 20,000 hours of work!

Plaisance-sur-Gers is a town of pleasures and games... Have fun with your family at the mini-golf course where the town's buildings are reproduced in miniature. A 7 ha lake awaits you for fishing and a beautiful leisure center. An arena offers Landes racing and " novillada " shows.

Plaisance has been hosting a "RPGers" Game Festival, dynamically supported by the city's Multicultural Association, for over 20 years. Over 8,000 m2, for several days, it is a festival of board games, role-playing games, life-size games, cards and figurines.

Marciac

What would Jazz be without Marciac and Marciac without Jazz? The International Jazz Festival, which takes place every year from the end of July to August 15, draws crowds and gets the city talked about in all four corners of the jazz bars! A modern and high-quality museum space (Les Territoires du Jazz) is open to perfect your knowledge of this musical genre (in summer and out of season, open to groups by reservation).

Marciac also has a beautiful Natural History Museum, with an impressive collection of birds, Landes race arenas, a pretty 30 ha lake perfect for fishing, pedal boating or a nice walk. Also worth seeing is the beautiful church of Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption, which is one of the two bell towers in the town, the second being that of the former convent. The Espace Eqart and many other galleries exhibit artists of all kinds. Finally, the Astrada hosts concerts (Jazz, but not only!) and shows all year round.

There really are a lot of things to do in Marciac, aren't there?

Marciac city center

Montesquiou

The small hilltop village of Montesquiou is very pleasant. The capital of a canton of 17 communes, it is above all the cradle of the Montesquiou family, from which the mother of the famous d'Artagnan descended. In the 19th century, the village was powerful and well populated, but the rural exodus gradually emptied the countryside. Today, it is neo-ruralism that attracts people to Montesquiou, as in many beautiful little villages in the Gers!

Visit the 13th century tower, the landscape is attractive. The Saint-Martin church will please pilgrims, Montesquiou being on the Via Tolosana of Santiago de Compostela. Do not miss the very pretty 74 ha lake, the Lizet, its landscape diversity typical of Astarac and its fauna!

Mirande

Here we are in the heart of Astarac. Mirande is a beautiful fortified bastide in the south of Gers, dating from the 13th century. It is the capital of the county of Astarac. Walk around its heart to discover the remains of the ramparts, the metal-structured market hall, its bell tower and its market, without forgetting its monumental 14th century Gothic-style church and its characteristic porch.

The Museum of Fine Arts and Decorative Arts offers you a beautiful collection of paintings and earthenware. It should please children thanks to an ingenious game booklet "Find the little beast". After a walk in the pretty alleys aligned in a checkerboard pattern, around the square and a refreshment, head to Ludina in the summer. On the program: 15,000 m2 of greenery and 800 m2 of aqua-fun zone, sports activities and a snacking area for the whole family. In Mirande is also the Center for Initiatives for the Environment which organizes a range of educational activities all year round.

Mirande has obtained the international Cittaslow Label (city of good living) for urban planning with a human face, placing the individual at the center of economic and tourist development.

Masseube

Masseube will enchant nature lovers. The south of Gers, foothills of the Pyrenees, is a haven of calm and savoir-vivre. The Astarac countryside is dotted with magnificent private castles enhancing the sunflower fields and the multitude of bodies of water, ideal for walking, fishing, horse riding... Find half-timbered houses and corbels, picturesque streets, the market hall, the church with 3 naves ... Masseube and its 1,600 inhabitants welcome you with authenticity.