La Maison des Lys
Valence sur Baise
Chiambre dhote de charme
Local Sports and Activities
Swimming
Condom Swimming Pool complex indoor and outdoor 9 km
Castera Verduzan Lido – swimming Lake and beach 10 km
Gondrin Swimming pool and beach 14 km
Canoeing
Beaucaire 8 km, Condom 9 km
River cruises
Daily Condom 9 km
Weekly every Sunday in July and August Valence sur Baïse lunch cruise
Fishing
River Baïse
Horse riding
Valence Les Ecuries d’Armagnac
Golf
Golf de Fleurance (27 km) – Simple, flat 9-hole layout, undemanding holiday golf
Eauze – Golf Le Guinlet (25 km) – Good 18-hole course, some challenging holes, swimming pool and restaurant
Auch – Golf des Embats (33 km) – hilly course on outskirts of Gers capital, good restaurant
Tennis
Valence 2 courts. Condom. Tournament in July
VTT
Lots of quiet minor roads, plenty of recommended routes, wonderful scenery make the Gers ideal cycling country
Adventure sports
Quads, kart cross, jet ski – Loubejan near Auch
Quad Concept offer days or half day courses on quads and buggies or paint balling.
Le Vert en l’air, journey through the forest trees on aerial walkways
Flying Lessons
Nogaro Aerodrome – planes, gliders, helicopters
L’Aerodrome Auch-Lamothe
Gliding School – Beraut (9k) Centre Vélivole d’Auch
Spas
Castera Verduzan (10 km) This small spa village has very good facilities with Thermal baths specializing in digestive and metabolic cures, its hydro mineral waters contain sulphates, calcium and magnesium
Lectoure (25 km) New thermal centre opened in 2003 specializing in rheumatism cures and general well-being and fitness. Swimming pool, hydromassage and water fall, interior beach, sauna, hamman and Jacuzzi
Barbaton-les-Thermes (45 km) Renowned since Roman times for its natural thermal waters, the spa town had just completed a huge renovation project making it one of the most modern spas in Europe.
Casino
Castera Verduzan (10 km)
Horseracing
Castera Verduzan (10 km)
Auch (35 km)
Valence sur Baïse
Motor racing
Nogaro motor circuit (44 km)
Renault Elf Driving School. F3000, sports car and truck racing
Bullfighting
Vic-Fezensac (20 km), Eauze (26 km), Cazaubon (44 km)
Walibi theme park
Agen (49 km)
Walking
The Pilgrims Routes to Santiago de Compostella
The Gers has over 1500k of roads and pathways and since the 9th century and the discovery of the tomb of St. James the apostle at Compostella, in Galicia, the Gers has been a staging-post for thousands of pilgrims. La Romieu and the Abbaye de Flaran were two of the most popular halts but the numerous cathedrals, churches and chapels mark the routes which are still popular with walkers today. The main paths through the Gers are as follows:
• GR 65: from Puy to Roncevaux, crosses the Gers for 153 km passing through Miradoux, Lectoure, Condom, Eauze and Nogaro.
• GR 653: from Arles to Somport, 140 km via l’Isle-Jourdain, Gimont, Auch, Montesquiou and Marciac.
• GR 652: from Rocamadour to La Romieu, crossing the Gers for 18 km.
• GR 654: from Vézelay to Montréal, 15 km.
Markets
Monday – Mirande (45 km)
Tuesday – Fleurance (25 km)
Wednesday – Valence sur Baise, Condom (9 km)
Thursday – Eauze (26 km), Auch (35k)
Friday – Vic Fezensac (20 km), Lectoure (25 km)
Saturday – Nerac (30 km), Auch (35 km)
Sunday – Castera Verduzan (10 km)
Summer night markets
Vic Fezensac – fortnightly throughout July and August
Lavardens – 2nd Wednesday every fortnight in July and August enjoy a meal taken in the narrow streets beneath the imposing castle – stalls, music and entertainment
Fourcés – 3rd Wednesday in August. Smaller night market set in this unique circular bastide.
Montreal – mediaeval night markets 3rd Tuesday in July and 1st Tuesday in August, dress up in mediaeval costume and join the celebrations. All sorts of stalls, confit and chips in the village square, mediaeval music, jugglers, tightrope walker and other entertainments.
Vide-greniers, brocantes, antique fairs and bric-a-brac
There are numerous vide-greniers (literally attic clearances) in the Gers and they take place throughout the year as well as several larger and more up market salons. We will always try to advise our clients of all the local events
Music festivals
Condom (9 km) – International festival of Bandas y Penas – second weekend in May
La Romieu (21 km) – Night of the Bandas 13 July
Auch (35 km) – 2005, June 3-12. Festival Eclats du Voix – dedicated to vocal art in all its diversity – baroque and contemporary music, lyric works, variety and world music
Mirande (45 km) – Country Music July
Vic-Fezensac (20 km) – Tempo Latina – Latin American Festival last weekend in July
Marciac (56 km) – Jazz Festival August
Flower festivals
Fourcés Marché aux Fleurs – last weekends in April and August
La Romieu Rose Market – Second to last Sunday in May
Laplume Iris Festival – May
Ordan-Larroque Exotic Plants Market – 2nd Sunday in October
Les Jardins de Coursiana La Romieu Arboretum 700 species of trees and shrubs – open April 1-November 30