Your property in Gascony
Whether prospective buyers are looking for a charming townhouse, an elegant countryside farmhouse or a stunningly maintained and stylish château, it’s all available among the property in Gascony.
Inside Gascony
Quintessential images of rolling countryside complete with sunflower or lavender fields come from Gascony, a truly enchanting area with a rich history.
Gascony is centred around the historic town of Auch, the capital of the Gers département, which sits on a hilltop like many of the medieval villages in the area.
Gascony has a vibrant culture in its market towns, with celebrations throughout the year and captivating outdoor spaces to explore, such as the Landes de Gascogne regional park, located just north-west of Condom, and a stunning coastline.
Landscape
The truly diverse area takes in the spectacular Atlantic coast on its western edge, including superb destinations such as Arcachon, and moves inland through the Landes de Gascogne regional park towards Agen and Auch in the east of Gascony.
To the south, taking in places such as Tarbes, Lourdes and Saint-Gaudens, the area encompasses part of the Pyrénées mountain range.
Education
The nearest international schools to most towns and villages in Gascony are the Bordeaux International School for those in the north of the area and the International School of Toulouse for those in the south.
For further education, the University of Bordeaux and the Federal University of Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées are among the top 20 universities in France.
Activities and Entertainment
Gascony is an exceptional place for those who adore exploring the great outdoors, with the forests of Les Landes, the Atlantic coast and Dune du Pyla, the largest sand dunes in Europe, being just some of the magnificent locations.
The area’s history is also superbly brought to life via its various architectural monuments, including Auch’s Cathédrale Ste-Marie, a Unesco World Heritage site, the prehistoric caves of Gargas, near Saint-Gaudens, and the Gallo-Roman villa of Seviac, which includes some impressive mosaics.
For those that enjoy soaking up the atmosphere of medieval towns and villages, countless cobbled squares complete with café and bistros can be found, as well as a vast array of upmarket boutiques showcasing the region’s exceptional produce, fashion and furniture.
Art and Culture
There is a vibrant arty culture across Gascony, with excellent museums and galleries including the Musée des Jacobins in Auch, which curates South American art, and the Musée des Beaux Arts in Pau which houses works by renowned artists including Peter Paul Rubens, Edgar Degas and El Greco.
Music and theatre also play an important role in the region, with the well-known jazz festival in Marciac and the country music festival in Mirande, as well as true spectacles such as bullfighting in Vic Fezensac and the fireworks festival in Lectoure.
For a truly local experience, countless towns and villages host superb weekly markets, including Auch, Condom, Gimont, Marciac and Vic Fezensac.
Food and Drink
Gascony is a haven for foodies, with its cuisine often including what many regard as the best poultry in France. Local delicacies include duck paté de foie gras and croustade, a type of pie that can be savoury, with meat or vegetables, or sweet, with apple, while the area grows a third of all popcorn produced in Europe.
The vast array of local produce inspires the area’s restaurants, with high-end eateries including the Michelin-recommended Jeff envoie du bois specialising in ‘market cuisine’.
Its most famous product though is Armagnac, a local brandy which is known worldwide as a competitor to Cognac. In terms of wine, the region produces the excellent Côtes-de-Gascogne, Madiran and the distinctive Pacherenc-du-Vic-Bilh.
Accessibility
The region is exceptionally well-served with major airports, including Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport and Bergerac Airport and Toulouse to the south.
Bordeaux is connected to the country’s high-speed TGV railway line, meaning journeys to Paris can be completed in little over 2 hours, while trains from Toulouse to the capital take 4 hours 15 minutes.
The region is exceptionally well-connected by the country’s autoroutes, providing easy access around the region and to other destinations in France.