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Tourism information
| Region Aquitaine | |
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Aquitaine is located in the South of France, in an area where life is just easy. The visitor will enjoy the luxuriant and beautiful countryside. Aquitaine includes five Departments:
Five departments with such a great diversity of landscapes that you only have to travel 10 km before thinking you are in another country. |
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| Region Midi -Pyrénées This is an excellent area for anybody looking to relax and be surprised. Also a place where to learn from people who consider hospitality as the greatest value. For instance, take a trip to Gers, the area of the Armagnaac and of the festival "Jazz in Marciac"; or enjoy a cruise on Canal du Midi, or a hike on the path to Santiago de Compostela or in the footsteps of the Cathari in Ariège; go and visit sites such as Rocamadour and Saint Bernard de Cominges; or let yourself be surprised by a simple visit to al local market. |
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Lot et Garonne
There is so much to see and to do and in such a diversity that it is almost impossible to get bored.
# the Lot, Garonne and Baisse rivers offer many fun water activities; swimming, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and cruising down Canal du Midi on a houseboat;
# 3000 years of history have left many traces including some caves (in Hautefage-la-Tour, Grottes de Fontirou and Grotte de les Tournelles) and many castles starting with the beautiful chateau de Bonaquil. Also many medival villages and bastides with their traditional markets and fairs (Monflanquin, Puymrol), ther churches (Vianna and its Romanesque church) and many local markets (plums market in Villeneuve sur Lot).
# the mildly hilly landschape is perfect for hiking tours; there are over 150 waymarked hiking paths as well as the pilgrim path to Santiago de Compostela;
# golf lovers will enjoy the many beautiful golf courses of the area.
# a visit to the attraction park Walibi near Agen is a must for the children.
Tarn et Garonne
One of the characteristics of the landscape of Tarn-et-Garonne is the hundreds dovecotes perched on the tip of the hills or built close to the farmhouses.
A very succesful holiday is guaranteed in Tarn-et-Garonne owing to its beautrful countryside, its rich historic and cultural heritage, and its an mild and sunny weather.
# many fortified towns are worthwhile a visit: Montauban, Beaumont de Lomagne, Montjoi, Castelsagrat and Auvillar:
# also, many interesting castles in Brassac, Lazzaret, Bioule or Bruniquel;
# caves in the North-East of St. Antonin-Noble-Val, Grotte du Bosc. Also some prehistoric caves still to be discovered around Bruniquel:
# the jazz festival in Montauban, held in the second half of July, is well worth attending:
# the path G.RT. 65 (long-distance hiking path) goes across the Lauzerte, Moissac and Auvillar areas. It is the bests known and most walked on path of Europe. The French part of this path to Saint Jacques de Compostela has been rated since 1998 World Heritage by UNESCO. And a stopover at the abbey and the monatery of Moissac is a recommended to all the European Pilgrims;
# also many sports to practice in Tarn-et-Garonne: horse riding, sailing, windsurfing, cycling, golfing. In every part of the area, there are lakes and recreation park centres where to swim;
# and for the fisherman: 362 km of rivers of the 2nd category, 112 km of streams of the 1st category and lakes where to catch huge carps from:
# the framers markets are worthwhile going to; the weekly markets of Caussad (Mondays) and of Montauban (Saturdays) and the one Valence-d'Agen (Tuesdays) are the most famous.
Also to visit during the harvest period , are the fruit market of Moissac and the garlic market of Beaumont.
Interesting towns and places in the surrounding area:
Agen, the capital prefecture of Lot-et-Garonne is particularly famous for its prunes. It is however also a beautiful old town where it is enjoyable to stroll through, especially in the small streets of the shopping area and the traditional arcades, and to stop for a drink at one of the many pretty terraces.
Toulouse
The old streets, the banks of th Garonne river, the monuments and comfortable terraces breath a rich cultural history and radiate a "joie-de-vivre".
The Saint-Sernin Basilica is the largest Romanesque church in France and was originally a stopover during along pilgrimages.
Les Jacobins is an unique building with its church, monastery, lecture hall and the St. Antonin chapel.
The Capitol - The 8 Capitouls who used to run the city met in this beautiful building, and are at the origin of its name. Today the Capitol houses the city hall of Toulouse.
In summer, Toulouse lives at the rhythm of the Festivals: classic, jazz, and traditional music as well as dance.
Toulouse is a town for the arts and counts many museums; it is also the town known of its hundred gardens.
A visit to the Airbus factory will complete your visit of Toulouse.
Saint-Cirq-Lapopie and the Lot valley
Most of the village is rated "Monument Historique" (historic monument) and protected as such. The village with its old streets and beautiful residences is perched on top of cliff right over the Lot river. To visit in the village are the church (rated)., the ruins of the castle, and Sainte Croix Chapel from where you have an all round view over the Lot valley.
Montauban
This town located on the banks of Tarn river, is the second capital of Quercy area. The Count of Toulouse had this fortress built, in 1144, close to the abbey of Montauban. Houses in Montauban are made, like in Toulouse, of mostly pink stones. Places to visit in Montauban: Pont Vieux (old bridge) and the bell-tower of the Saint Jacques church which are the only vestiges left from the Middle Age. Close to Montauban, are the fortress of Beaumont-en-Lomagne, the church of Bouillac and the beautiful village of Lauzerte.
Moissac
The bell-tower of the Saint Pierre abbey still stands, as well as the south porch, and the unique nave: the lower part built out of stones is Romanesque, while the upper part, built out of brick, is Gothic. Restored during the 13th century, and damaged during the revolution, the abbey remains a place to visit. Not far away from Moissac, you will find the old village of Auvillar, very close to Valence d'Agen, and the castle of Brassac.
Monflanquin and Pujols
These medieval bastides (walled towns of the South West of France) are both beautiful and rated among the most beautiful village of France ("les plus beaux villages de France"). And there many other bastides in the area: Tournon d'Agenais, Lauzerte and Penne d'Agenais.
Chateau de Bonaquil
During the 15th century, the unsympathetic Beranger de Roquefeuil decided to convert an existing 13th century citadel, into an impregnable bastion. The castle was never besieged and the heirs of the baron lived there peacefully intil the 17th century. Even though, it was partly demolished at the time of the revolution, most of ist has been preserved in perfect condition. From nearby hilltops, the view over the golden castle is impressing and inspires a real display of power. A castle to visit absolutely.
Penne-d'Agenais
This bastide is visited by thousands of pilgrims in May and June. The upper town with its charming houses is very enjoyable to visit. On the very top of the village, the modern Notre-Dame-de-Peyragude basilica gives to the place quite an exotic touch.
Villeneuve-sur-Lot
The prune market is a special event. The inhabitants are very proud of their Musée de la Prune (restricted opening hours) where the implements for harvesting the plum and processing it into a prune are shown and explained. The museum is housed in the new Musée de la Vallée du lot, a converted watermill which includes in its collection religious objects, archaeological items and paintings.
Puymirol 
Puymirol was built in the 11th century by the Franks. This bastide is worth a stopover : the antic stone houses, the church and its 13th century protal, the arcades around the nice main place, and the beautiful all around views over the Séoune valley. A very animated farmers market every Saturday night thorough the summer (diner of local produces and specialities, music and dance while the pétanque players keep on playing....).
As in Dordogne, you will find some pre-historic caves in Lot-et-Garonne : Grottes de Fontirou, close to Casstella and Grottes de Lastournelle, close to Ste-Colombo-de-Villeneuve are the most remarkable.