The bastides in gascony

Whether circular, semi-circular or square, the "bastides" of gascony distinguish themselves by their diversity. here is a 7-stage discovery tour of the land of d'artagnan.

Gimont  With Mirande and Fleurance, Gimont is one of the most beautiful bastides in the Gers. It was founded in 1266, its main street running along the ridge of a spindle-shaped hill. You can just glimpse the covered walkways with their timbered first floor and the covered market site, behind the Southern Gothic-style church with its steeple wall and single nave.  The visit to the chapel of Cahuzac, the old houses, the old districts, the chapel «Saint-Jean», Cahuzac's park, Planselve abbey, the parish church and the cantonal museum.

Cologne  The bastide of Cologne was founded in 1286, harmoniously combining brick and stone as proof of its hesitation to choose between the Gascony of Toulouse and the «Lomagne» territory. Its star-feature is unquestionably its covered market, the square shape of which echoes the square plans of the bastide. The square, its fringe of covered houses and the streets all seem specially invented to welcome the market which is currently held there every Thursday morning. The church, with its perfect acoustics, its treasure room and its single Gothic nave, knows how to play its part even if its slightly off-centre location is a reminder that the power of influence in bastides was rather secular than religious.

Mauvezin  This bastide, set on a steep hill was feared by all around and named the «mauvais voisin» (bad neighbour) from which it draws its current name. It was once a protestant centre of importance and called «la petite Genève» (Small-scale Geneva). Don't miss a walk under its impressive 14th century semi-circular covered market set on pillars as smooth as marble and under the covered walkways that take you... halfway round the square.  A walk round the château, the steeple of the church «Saint Michel», The «Jeanne d'Albret» tower, the Priest's Fountain (la fontaine du curé), the lower part of town (la Basse-ville), the fountains, wells and wash houses as well as the stele in memory of Roger Couderc.

Solomiac  Solomiac's covered market, which is well over 600 years old, reveals multicoloured canvas stalls boasting delicious wares: foie gras, confits, crackling, fowl, cheeses, breads and pies, etc. all of which fittingly represent the gastronomy of Gascony.

Lavardens  Like Fourcès, the «château de Gascogne«, originated as a «castelnau» (a small village under the protection of a château around the year 1,000). This château was destroyed on the orders of King Charles the VIth and rebuilt during the 17th century by Antoine de Roquelaure for his beloved Suzanne de Bassabat, as a token of his love for her. A magnificent path round the battlements has been altered to become a balcony opening onto the countryside and now offers an ideal view of the surrounding panorama.  A visit to the château will enable you to test the extraordinary acoustics in the «echo room». In fact they are said to be so exceptional that long ago, priests used the room to hear the confessions of those suffering from the plague, thus keeping them well out of reach...

Fleurance  Fleurance is a bastide of triangular construction dating back to the 13th century, dynamic and very lively with a very festive market being held every Tuesday morning under a covered market site, which is rather surprisingly attached to the Town Hall. Its semi-classical, semi-Medieval urban fabric is dotted with ornate fountains portraying naked young women.

La romieu  La Romieu is an old ecclesiastical town girdled by great walls and moats; an imposing town with its majestic collegiate church, its lavishly ornate 16th century cloister and its «cardinal« tower. Spot the many sculpted cats on the façades of the houses in the «Place des Arcades«.  The collegiate church is a must as inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO. Also worth seeing is the «Place des Arcades» and the «Arboretum Coursiana».