Classic Gascony

9 days, 8 nights

June 21 – 29, 2027

These are genuinely small group, all inclusive tours for no more than 6 people.

Gascony is a well-kept secret. Bordered on the west by the Atlantic Ocean, the east by Toulouse, the north by Bordeaux and the south by the Pyrenees Mountains, this unspoiled paradise is far enough off the beaten path to retain its unique identity, yet established enough to accommodate travelers. Here you’ll discover an intimate portrait of French rural life without the distraction of crowds. Nowhere in the south will a traveler find a warmer welcome.

The heart of Gascony lies in the Gers, an intensely agricultural corner of France sprinkled with traditional family-owned farms rich with nature’s bounty. During the summer months, white clouds languish in clear blue skies above rows of brilliant yellow sunflowers, golden wheat, and emerald green vineyards that stretch to the horizon.

Eating and drinking are two of the most compelling reasons to visit the Gers. Its most famous products are duck, foie gras, wild mushrooms, garlic, and Armagnac, France’s oldest brandy. The Gers also produces fine wines, worthy rivals to Bordeaux vintages.

Since the love of good food and community is at the heart of French village life, there is no better way to step into the rhythm of a country day than through the marketplace, where locals gather to shop and share stories. We’ll visit farmers’ markets offering dazzling displays of seasonal produce and tantalizing delicacies, enjoy an all-day, hands-on, farm-to-table cooking workshop, and visit family-run wineries and Armagnac distilleries that are central to this region’s way of life, preserving their connection to the land.

We’ll wander through fortified villages steeped in history, visit local farms, ancient abbeys, and dine at charming restaurants offering outstanding rural, yet innovative cuisine. Most importantly, we’ll enjoy the art of slow travel, the perfect way to experience the French joie de vivre.

Sample Itinerary

Day 1

Following your arrival at the Toulouse-Blagnac Airport, we will drive through the bucolic landscapes of the Gers. Depending upon your arrival time we’ll either stop in the medieval town of Mauvezin for lunch, under the arcade next to its 13th century covered market square, or Auch, one of the historic capitals of Gascony. Afterwards, we’ll take a scenic route through the countryside to your accommodations at Le Chai, a beautifully restored, 19th century mansion. This will be your home away from home for the entire tour.

Day 2

Our last day will be spent in Auch, the capital of the Gers for a very special cooking class with Pascale Jaubert. You will learn the techniques and recipes of the French terroir. Her workshop offers a menu of seasonal, locally sourced Ingredients and authentic cooking techniques. Pascal has worked in Paris at the Jardins de l’Opéra, the Grotte Cie in London, and helped Ariane Daguin create the restaurant and shop, d’Artagnan n New York.

Day 3

Éauze is the capital of the Bas Armagnac region and offers one of the liveliest, and largest agricultural markets in the Gers. The market takes place along the ring of the old town and under the plane-tree canopied, Place d’Armagnac. We will wander through the market which sells everything from fresh produce, roasting chickens, and local cheeses, to clothes, cookware and kitchen towels. After lunch we will drive a short distance to the Domaine de Lagajan, an 11 generation Armagnac distillery. We’ll sit under the shade of their 600 year old oak tree to taste what is arguably some of the best Armagnac in the region. Lagajan also makes a delicious aperitif named Floc, flower of Gascony, a blend of grape juice and Armagnac.

Day 4

The village of Lectoure, once inhabited by the Counts of Armagnac, the great territorial lords, has a patrician air about it visible in the grandeur of its lovely stone buildings. Lectoure is known for growing the sweetest melons in the region, and one third of all the garlic in France. We will meander down Lectoure’s one long main street during market day as well as many of the antique shops.After lunch in the hilltop Village of Caussens, we will tour L”Bufula, buffalo farm, one of the few in France that raises this type of animal. L’Bufala is a typical Gascon farm, surrounded by 70 hectares of contiguous meadows, allowing them to implement a rotational grazing system to maximize grazing for the buffalo.

Day 5

We will wander through the colorful farmers’ market in the village of Marciac, founded in 1298. Marciac is known internationally for its August, Jazz in Marciac festival. We’ll also visit the gallery and meet local artist, Perry Taylor. Perry’s humorous drawings of French country life strike a chord with Francophiles and French alike. His much sought after witty pastiches are full of mischievous details, capturing the essence of life in South West France.

Day 6

Today we’ll tour the 12th-century Cistercian, Abbaye de Flaran just outside the village of Valence-sur-Baïse. The abbey showcases local art exhibitions, as well as works by Cézanne, Renoir, Matisse, Monet, and Braque, and a small museum dedicated to the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route through the Gers. After lunch we’ll visit the smallest fortified village in France, Larressingle.

Day 7

Today we will visit Royal City of Nérac, the summer home of France’s most beloved king, King Henri IV, which has a pretty setting overlooking the Baïse River. Nérac has a wonderful Saturday farmers’ market that winds through its medieval streets. We’ll tour the Château-Museum before lunch. Afterwards we’ll drive to the incredibly charming village of Fourcès, one of the smallest round, medieval fortified villages in France. It is listed as one of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France.

Day 8

La Romieu is often called the “village of cats” because a large number of cat sculptures are hidden around the village: on windows, doors, gate posts and niches. The sculpted cats are the work of Maurice Serreau, a sculptor from Orléans. He fell in love with the legend of young Angélina, a little girl from the Middle Ages whose cats saved the village from starvation. The village is also closely linked to the pilgrimage to Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle.

Day 9

We will depart for Blagnac airport in Toulouse or the Gare d’Agen in Agen.

9 days, 8 nights

June 21-29, 2027 $4,950.00 per person

These are genuinely small group tours for no more than 6 people.

Sample Itinerary Note
The Adventures listed are samples. We feel something wonderful or unexpected can happen if you don’t have a set itinerary. We can don as much or as little as each individual group chooses. In the event of unforeseen circumstances; I.e., a change in a class schedule, or restaurant closure, an alternative will always be offered. Likewise, if a special exhibit, class or event becomes available I will make a substitution and rearrange the itinerary. Here’s a list of some of the other villages we can substitute or add to our day’s itinerary: Bazas, La Romieu, Labastide d’Armagnac, and Lavardens.