One day was spent on a tour of medieval chateaux and fortresses in the area; there are many more. It was a very magical day with a look into the past while living in the present.
Chateau de Cassaigne
The Chateau de Cassaigne is a breathtaking and very historic site in remarkable condition. It was built in 1247 by Montassin de Goalard, the Abbot of Condom. This was actually the Bishops of Condom’s country residence in the 16th century. At this time, this century’s old site needed to be rebuilt (having suffered from the fallout of a number of battles) and parts of the chateau were also redone in the 18th century.
During the Revolution, the Bishop’s steward purchased the chateau, the descendants of which are the current owners. Henri Faget and his wife produce an Armagnac, supplied by the 30 hectares of vines that surround the chateau, considerably restoring the chateau’s former glory and prestige. It is also one of the most important producers of fine Côtes de Gascogne wines.
Fources
Fources was originally built around a castle, but now all that remains of this development is a tree-lined square and a moat. Fources was designed as a “bastide” – a circular plan of homes comprised of timber construction surrounded by the moat. These days Fources attracts visitors for the Flower Market in April and the annual jazz festival (“Marciac in Fources”) as well as their local restaurants and small shops.
Town of Larresingle
Larressingle is a medieval village, developed in the 13th century, and is known as one of the most beautiful villages of France by the tourism website “France This Way”. The only way to enter is through the fortified gates of the village, just over the now dried-up moat. Larressingle can be found west of Condom and is the most-visited site in the Gers area.
Larressingle was the medieval home to the bishops stationed in nearby, Condom. Father Hugh, founder of the Abbey of Condom and heir of the Dukes of Gascony, became bishop of Agen and Bazas. He left his office Abbey of Condom and donated to his successor’s land, Larressingle. Thus, the abbots and bishops of Condom became the Lords of the area.
La Bastide at Barbotan – Les -Thermes – Charming Hotel and Spa
There is a wonderful Spa Hotel in Barbotan-Les-Thermes where I stayed. The rooms were large, sunny with large windows, very comfortable. I was able to partake in “les Soins” (treatments) at the Spa which were inexpensive and very effective. The area can be found in the Armagnac vineyards of Gascony. The hotel is comprised of an 18th century charterhouse which has been restored to its original French style. The hotel and lounges contain 25 rooms and suites along with two large fireplaces (handy if you are visiting in winter) and an outside Italian gallery (if you are lucky enough to be visiting during a glorious French summer)
The spa was inspired by the 20,000-year-old mineral water springs, rich with sulfur, iron, and carbon dioxide. You can sign up for natural body and facial treatments as well as steam baths, hydromassage, mud wraps, and more.
Barbotan-les-Thermes
Barbotan is a thermal bath and health resort located in the small town of Cazaubon, which is at the heart of the Bas-Armagnac region in Gascony that is known for the thermal resort (the hot springs have been known since before the Christian era), but also stands alone when it comes to history and heritage. The former town of Cazaubon was probably built during the 5th century, when the Aquitains built their villages up the hill in a defensive position. During the 11th century, advanced fortifications were added with four gates in them, as the traditional bastides. Cazaubon had then 8 parishes, Barbotan, then known as Saint Pierre, being one of them.
