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Gascony Holiday Cottages
For a wide range of Gascony cottage properties, villas and gites see the rental companies listed below. They've been arranged according to the number they offer and range from general rental agents to specialist French holiday companies. Deals and reductions are offered throughout the year from each company.
Cottages 4 You -
500 Gascony holiday cottages and villas in South West France and the vineyards region. Like the vast majority of their properties, booking rates are between £300 and £1300, depending on season. All are inspected regularly with start days on Saturdays.
Holiday Rentals - More than
170 Gascony cottages and holiday villas in the Gers region. Their collection includes traditional farmhouses, modern townhouses and well-appointed chateux. See the user reviews for unbiased accounts of each holiday property.
Holiday Lettings - 30 Gascony self catering cottages and villas from Holiday Lettings. They're situated in places like Riscle, Montreal du Gers and Marciac and are available from as little as £100 in some cases. Some are also able to accommodate up to 14 people.
French Connections - A small collection of cottages in Gascony as well as other forms of self catering accommodation including gites and villas. Most of their properties are modern and feature outdoor swimming pools and other extras such as wi-fi and satellite tv.
Gascony
Famed for its douceur de vivre, Gascony is located in Southwest France and is noted for its beautiful landscapes of rolling green hills, remote villages and golden beaches. Gascony holiday cottages are set in one of the least populated regions in Western Europe and offer an ideal opportunity to escape the stresses of urban life.
Bounded by the Bay of Biscay and the Pyrenees, the countryside consists of some wonderful settings. Little towns such as
St Jean de Luz and the more well-known Biarritz pepper the impressive coast and lie back from golden beaches. The Pyrenees also form an impressive backdrop and can be seen in the hazy distance.
Roman roads link countless small, medieval settlements known as Bastide villages. These routes are largely devoid of traffic and very scenic, affording some fine views of the surrounding countryside. The towns of
Bayonne, Dax especially Lourdes, with its shrine offer some fine historical attractions that attract pilgrims and visitors from all over the world.
Gascony is also known for its food and drink and the region is home to Armagnac brandy and foie gras. Madirans and Buzet red wines also come from the region and are highly regarded among connoisseurs. With its vineyards and impressive
stone chateaux and farmhouses, Gascony is an idyllic destination for renting holiday cottages. See below for further information about Gascony visitor attractions.
Gascony visitor attractions
Tourists wishing to rent cottages in Gascony will discover an area containing all the elements of a great holiday: unspoiled countryside, traffic-free roads, interesting towns and villages, good food and wine and a gentle, relaxed pace of life.
Outdoor activities
There is plenty to do in this delightful area of France - biking, boating and horse riding are all popular activities and there are several equestrian centres including those at Clairac,
Fargues-sur-Ourbise and Casteljaloux. The Lot and the Garonne are two of the largest and well-stocked rivers in the region with bream, carp and trout and keen fishermen can obtain inexpensive permits locally.
The
Aquitaine Tourist Office provides a cycling brochure which lists recommended routes and there are plenty of places to hire bicycles and equipment. There are golf courses at Eauze, Castelnaud, Barbaste and Mont-de- Marsan. The spa facilities at Dax, Casteljaloux and Eugenie-les-Bains are excellent and for the less energetic, there are
river cruises and barge trips available on the Baise, Garonne and Lot rivers
Food and drink
The local cuisine is certainly varied and interesting. Foie gras, magrets (duckbreasts) and confits are traditional dishes. Game is also popular as are wood pigeon and wood cock. The wine of the area - Madiran and Tuscan are robust reds and
Armagnac Brandy is the region’s favourite digestif.
Chez Simone in Montreal de Gers is a reasonably priced restaurant serving traditional Gascon food and
La Table des Cordeliers in Condom specialises in fish - turbot and red mullet - expensive but well worth sampling on a special occasion.
Les Darolles at Auch is a lively brasserie which caters for all tastes - from steak to salads. And Le Lampro in Cahors is a busy Italian restaurant, which serves Italian food as well as some local dishes.
History and Culture
The region, which is now known as Gers has a colourful history. Over the centuries, it had fallen under Roman, Spanish, French and English rule and each culture has left its mark. The Roman villa at Seviac near Montreal was built in the 5th century B.C. where a swimming pool and 30 mosaic pavements were discovered. Chateaux, medieval villages and fortified sites abound.
At Auch, the capital of the area, is the magnificent 12th century
Abbaye de Flaran, a Cistercian abbey near Valence-sur-Bais said to be one of the best preserved abbeys in France. In the centre of the town, the Escalier monument known as the Great Staircase is 35metres high and consists of 234 steps. At the bottom is a Statue of d’Artagnan, one of the famous musketeers who was born nearby. Worth seeing is the 13th century medieval village of Larressingle near St Puy which has been tastefully restored.
