La Maison des Lys
Valence sur Baise
Chiambre dhote de charme
What’s on
The Gers is alive with fêtes, festivals, celebrations, markets and activities. Every weekend sees some get together or other. Of course the publicity for the events usually appears at the last minute so there is always a surprise around the corner.
We have tried to put together as comprehensive a list as possible and we will be adding to it from time to time, but we can not take any responsibility for these listings and suggest that if the event is an integral part of your trip then you should confirm the details with the organizers.
We will also let you know of last minute when you visit us, be it the latest Vide-greniers, specialist market or a horse race meeting.
| MONTH | EVENT | COMMENTS |
| All Year | Valence sur Baise. Portraits from the Simonov Collection | Stunning exhibition with works by great artists of 16-20th Century- Monet, Rodin, Picasso and more in the wonderful setting of Flaran Abbey. An exceptional experience |
| 2nd Sat Every Month | Auch Brocante | Maison de Gascogne – bric a brac market. |
| March 19-20 | Nogaro Racing Circuit | Peugeot Sport Meeting |
| March 19-June 13 | Chateau Lavardens | Ceramistes d’Art Exhibition |
| March 25-27 | Le Saint Mont en Fête | The winemakers of Saint Mont (VDQS classified full bodied wines) organise their wine festival with a wine route through the vineyards, tastings, displays, local produce markets and meals. |
| April 2-3 | Nogaro Racing Circuit | Promosprt Coupe de France |
| April 3 | Tillac Floriale | Flower show in charming Gersois village. |
| April 9 | Condom Cathedral | Choral Festival |
| April 23 -25 | Nogaro Racing Circuit | Easter Cup |
| April 23-24 | Fourcés Marché aux fleurs | Largest flower market in SW France in lovely bastide village setting. |
| May – Nov | Fourcés Brocantes | Every second Sunday from May to November bric-a-brac and antique sale in Fourcés ‘place rond’. |
| May 6-8 | Condom Bandas y Penas Festival | Lively weekend of music with international bandas groups from Gascony, Spain and Belgium. |
| May 7 | Eauze | Vide Grenier, Brocante et fetes des fleurs |
| May 7 – 8 | Nogaro Racing Circuit | Superbike French Championship. |
| May 15 | Tillac Brocante | Brocante and bric-a-brac fair in this lovely medieval village. |
| May 15 | Le Marché aux Rosiers, La Romieu | The centre of the village is covered in Roses Nurserymen from all over the region show and sell their blooms. |
| May 28-29 | Nogaro Racing Circuit | Honda Michelin Power Cup |
| May 28-Jun 5 | Salon des Antiquaires Eauze | Antique Fair |
| June 2 | Riscle Fête des Fleurs | Flower displays and market |
| June 10 – 13 | Feria de Pentecôte – Vic Fezensac | Bull fighting, Course Landaise, fiesta |
| June 12 | Montreal | Brocante et Vide Grenier |
| June 17-July3 | Auch Eclats de Voix | A celebration of the voice. Concerts, recitals, shows and courses at Auch Cathedral and L’Abbaye de Flaran |
| Jun 17-21 | Valence en Fete | Concerts,pétanque, quilles & palet competitions, endurance cycle race around the village and horse and trotting racing at Valence’s track |
| Jun 18-19 | Nogaro Racing Circuit | Truck Racing European Cup. |
| June 26 | Fources | Artists Festival ‘Painters in the Street’ |
| Jul/Aug | Night Market Season | Night markets in Vic Fezensac (Jul 13,28 Aug 11, 25), Fources, Laverdens, Montreal et al. |
| Jul 3, 11, 27 | Castera Verduzan Hippodrome | Horse racing and trotting. |
| Jul 8 | Vic Fezenzac | Courses Landaise |
| Jul 9, 10 | Nogaro Racing Circuit | Ducati Endurance racing |
| Jul 11, 25 | Valence | Night Market |
| July 13-18 | Country and Western Festival Mirande | Biggest Country Music festival in Europe hosted by Chris Potter (Kung Fu Legend, Heartland). Country concerts, western stalls, American cars, hot air balloons and more. 60+ concerts including Sylvie Vartan. |
| July 13 | La Romieu | Bandas night. Lively local bands in competition. |
| July 14, 15, 16 | Tour de France | Nearest section of Tour including high mountain Pyrénées climb Pau to Lourdes. |
| July 14 | Bastille Day- Valence | Vide grenier, local producers market, meals under the arcades, fireworks. |
| July 16 – Aug 21 | Lectoure’s Photographic Summer | Festival of photography including exhibitions, workshops, competitions. |
| July 16-18 | Festival Cuivre-Foliz Fleurance | Fun festival of street music with ‘fanfare bands’, mostly brass & percussion instruments playing everything from Jazz to pop and gypsy to metal. |
| July 18-20 | Les Journées Lagraulet | Concerts, master classes and workshops for the Voice and piano.This year magnificent Lithuanian pianist Muza Rubackyte plays Liszt and Urs Karpatz sing and play gypsy music. |
| July 20 | Montreal | Medieval night market. |
| July 21 | La Romieu | Guided night tour of La Collegiale |
| July 24 | Fête Médiévale Larressingle | Life in the Middle Ages. The museum and inhabitants recreate in full costume village life in ancient Gers . |
| July 28-31 | Tempo Latino – Vic Fezensac | A lively festival of Latin American and Afro-Cuban music. 32 concerts on 5 stages, market stalls, street restaurants, drinks and fun at the barrio Latino. |
| July 29- August 15 | Jazz in Marciac | The internationally renowned Festival of Jazz with top name artists dates, artists tbc. |
| August 4 | Saint Clar | Garlic Festval and lunch |
| August 6 | Vic Fezensac Corrida – Concours | Bull fights. |
| August 6-7 | Jegun Wine Festival | Wine and Eau de vie festival with tastings, displays and sales. |
| August 6-12 | Festival d’Astronomie – Fleurance | A week-long festival with conferences, workshops and hands-on astronomy. |
| August 8 & 22 | Night Market | Valence sur Baise |
| August 12-13 | Lectoure | Melon Festival. |
| August 12 | Fources | ‘Marciac in Fources’ jazz evening. |
| August 13-14 | Fete du Vin – Madiran | Wine tasting around the Madiran vineyards. |
| Aug 16, 19, 22 | Castera Verduzan Hippodrome | Horse racing and trotting. |
| August 18 | Saint-Clar – Le Concourse de l’Ail | Celebrating garlic, the Gers is France’s foremost producer. |
| September 2 | Fources | An evening of Chamber Music |
| Sept 2-3 | Lectoure | Firework Festival |
| Sept 3 – 4 | Nogaro Racing Circuit | 51st Historic Nogaro Grand Prix |
| Sept 17 – 18 | Nogaro Racing Circuit | Fun Cup |
| Sept 18 | La Romieu | Potters Market |
| Sept 18 | Vic Fezensac Fête de la Saint Mathieu | Festival celebrating the patron saint of Vic with fairground and fireworks. |
| Sept 19 & 26 | Vic Fezensac | Horse Racing |
| Sept 24-25 | Nogaro Racing Circuit | 100 Tours Alan Fabre |
| Oct 3, 23, 24 | Castera Verduzan Hippodrome | Horse racing and trotting. |
| Oct 13 – 16 | Auch Cinema Festival | Festival Cine 32 |
| Oct 21 – 31 | Auch – Circus Festival | 10 day festival of circus with performers from around the world. |
| Nov 11 – 13 | Lectoure | St Martinns Fair – Braderie (antiques and bric-a-brac) |
| Nov 19 – 20 | Madiran – Open Doors | Wine tastings, displays, markets and meals. |
| Nov 19 -20 | Montreal | La Flamme de l’Armagnac Festival – vineyard visits, walking and cycling tours, meals and festivities |