LOCATION


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Flying

The house is within easy reach of four airports;

By Car

The best route is via Portsmouth to St Malo overnight with Brittany Ferries. The journey is about 400 miles and takes about 7 hours with pit stops. It is all motorway until the last 25 minutes from the motorway exit Junction 7 at Agen. There is a shorter day crossing from Poole to Cherbourg, and the drive is then 9 hours

By Train

There is a good service on the TGV from Waterloo to Agen via Lille. The 08.30 arrives at 18.30 and is a useful conduit if other friends or family wish to join you.

DIRECTIONS

From Bergerac.
Take the N21 due south to Villeneuve sur Lot. Then follow signs for Agen, still on the N21. Follow signs around the town, probably saying Motorway A62-E72, Bordeaux Toulouse etc, cross over a big river, the Garonne and after about400 metres ,at the first roundabout take signs for N21 Le Passage, Layrac and Astaffort. Go through Astaffort heading towards Lectoure, and still on N21. about 200 metres after you leave the village you will see on the left , Intermache and a Garden Centre. Opposite this is a small turning on the right take it. It the D266 but there is no sign. Stay on this road ( about 5 kms) over the railway line and River Gers, up to a T junction (Lourtiguet). Turn left and stay on that road ( still D266 ) until you come to a small cross roads . St Martin de Goyne is signed to the right. Take the left, down a slight incline, over the River Gers(again) up to the end, over a railway crossing round to the right then after 100metres and the road bends to the left. Ignore that and go straight on, onto an even more minor road. Keep going for about one kilometre keeping the railway on your right, and we are the second entrance on the left. ( 90/120 minutes depending on driver!!)

From Bordeaux.
Take the Bordeaux Peripherique from Merignac A630/E05 (right at the roundabout after the airport spur) At exit 19 take the motorway to Toulouse, Agen and Langon, heading south on the A62/ E72. Drive like hell (130/150kph) for 1 hour and come off the Toll Peage at Agen. Then after the pay booth keep in the right hand lane and follow signs for Le Passage, Layrac, Astaffort and Lectoure. Once in Astaffort follow details as above. (About 90 minutes)

From Toulouse.
This is quite easy once you get on the right road. Come out of Blagnac Airport following signs for Toulouse and then continue following signs for Auch/ Tarbes and N124. Suddenly you will see signs for Auch, L'isle- Jourdain to confirm you are on the right road. After L'Isle Jourdain, having gone through the centre and out over the river, take a right on to D654, between two lakes. Stay on this for about 50/60 mins through Monbrun , Cologne , Mauvezin , Monfort , Brugnens , all sign posted Fleurance. At Fleurance take the first exit out of the roundabout heading due north to Lectoure on N21. As you come into Lectoure turn Left signed Condom and Ligardes onto the D36. Follow for about 800 metres , over a railway crossing and the River Gers, then 300 metre, turn right to Nerac / Ligardes on N36. After about 6/7 kilometres you will see a turning on the right after a brow (ease up or you will over shoot) signed Castera Lectourois. Take it and follow the lane (D219) for about 1000metre, over the River Gers, over the level crossing and fork left. 300metre and fork left again by a Cross. Carry on down this lane for about700 metres. We are the second property on the right. (75/90 minutes)

From Condom (and Pau)
Come out of Condom on the the D931 heading North-East signed Agen Laplume and Ligardes. After about 3 kilometres , take the turning on the right signed La Romieu ( D41 ) . through La Romieu , skirting around the village on the North side, carry on , on D41 for about 700 meters. Take the turning on the right signed St Martin de Goyne/ Larroque Engalin and immediately (50 metres) fork left. Follow this lane ( D266 ) through Larroque and down the valley until you come to the D36. Nerac+ Ligardes/ Lectoure road. Go straight over and after about 750 metres turn right. Then follow as for the last 4 lines of the Bergerac directions. (Condom is 25 minutes and Pau 2 hours)

If hopeless(ly),..lost and confused.. call 00.33.562.29.48.02 or 00.44.7831.859422.

WEATHER

On the same latitude as Nice, the temperatures are very pleasant and reasonable rainfall in the winter months keeps the countryside green. Early spring and late summer can have very warm days punctuated with heavy showers. Wonderfully hot sunny conditions are normal from May to October when we tend to live outside. Often the mornings are cooler allowing some work or shopping to be done before the mist burns off at Midday. For anyone used to the English climate, the Gascony weather is fantastic. May and September have mean daily maximum temperatures of 21 - 25C (70-77f) climbing to 30-35C ( 85-95f) in July & August.
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MAIN TOWNS

Castera Lectourois is situated in Gascony, in the Gers, in a triangle bounded by Agen, Condom and Lectoure.

DESCRIPTION OF AREA

The countryside is very beautiful, unspoilt and has the lowest population density of anywhere in France. (10 per sq kilometre against the national average of 40 per sq kilometre). The main crops are Sunflowers, vines, wheat, onions, maize/ sweet corn and more recently fields of opium poppies for the pharmaceutical industry. Endless villages, bastides, hamlets and hilltop villages abound. Traffic is light if not negligible and the French most charming and welcoming.

Farmers Markets.

HISTORY OF GASCONY

Gascony is famous as the birthplace of D’Artagnan from “The Three Musketeers”. It is also the home of the liqueur, Armagnac. There are many interesting Churches, Cathedrals, Fortified Villages (Bastides) Vineyards, Armagnac Producers, Apple, Plum and Walnut Orchards as well as a famous garlic growing area. The predominant livestock production is duck and there are a significant number of Foie Gras Farms. Our local village ( 10 mins) is a source of morning bread, croissants and a wonderful selection of tarts, both readymade and to order.

History provides the area with a unique link with England. In 1151 Eleanor of Aquitaine married Henry II of England and brought Gascony as part of her dowry. Their son Richard I (The Lionheart”) spent time there subduing a revolt. During the Hundred Years War, Gascony became a battlefield between England and France, during which time the fortified “Bastides” were built. A famous circular one at Fources is close by and offers the visitor a choice of Village Inn or Restaurant fare. Some of these Bastides were pro English and some were pro French. Despite the victories of Henry V in Northern France, and as a direct result of the efforts of Joan of Arc, the English troops finally withdrew from Gascony in 1451. The Duke of Wellington’s forces rested at Pau during the Peninsular Wars

RESTAURANTS

There are 2 restaurants in Astaffort (10 minutes to the North) that have a Michelin Star and one in Condom. There are a number of good cafes and Brasseries in Lectoure, Condom, Auch and Agen but the former 2 are less well served out of season. There is a folder at Mayres with the details of a number of Hotels, Restaurants, Cafes, and Brasseries etc

VISITS

Bastides/ Wine Tasting/ Museums/ Exhibitions/ Armagnac Tasting/ Foie Gras Farm/ Canoeing on the Baise/ River excursion on the Baise/ Visit to the Condom Wine Co-operative / Go-Karting / Farmers Markets/ Antique Markets/ The 3 Valley Waterpark at Lectoure/The Wallaby Theme Park at Agen and a host more things to do for all ages.

In addition the Spring and Summer is full of local Fairs and Fetes. Jazz at Marciac, Numerous Antique Markets, Bull Fighting Festival and Night Markets at Vic Fezansac, Course Landais (Bull Jumping) throughout the summer, a marvellous Rose Festival in May at La Romieu, Motor Racing at Nogaro, The Country and Western Festival in Mirande in July, and many others. It is certainly worth enquiring at the Tourist Office in La Romieu which fairs, fetes, markets and Bandas are on during your stay.

There is also the Abbey de Flaran, which is not to be missed just outside Condom which is one of the finest examples of a 12th Century Cistercian Abbey