Fourcès

Toulouse, Gers & Vallée du Tarn


Some 13km northwest of Condom, Fourcès (the 's' is pronounced) is a picturesque bastide (fortified town) on the River Auzoue. The village's well-preserved stone houses and 13th-century bell tower are squeezed into a near-perfect circle. This unique design has earned sleepy Fourcès a reputation as one of the prettiest villages in southwest France, though there is little to keep travellers here beyond an hour or two admiring its architecture.

The village bursts into colour during the last weekend of April for its Marché aux Fleurs, more a flower festival than a market.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Toulouse, Gers & Vallée du Tarn attractions

1. Villa Gallo-Romaine

4.13 MILES

About 15km west of Condom near the little town of Montréal du Gers lie the excavated remains of a 2nd- to 5th-century Gallo-Roman villa. Discovered in the…

3. Musée de l'Armagnac

7.45 MILES

Located in a turn-of-the-century cellar, this museum is dedicated to the fine art of Armagnac production; it houses a modest collection of vintage bottles…

4. Cathédrale St-Pierre

7.49 MILES

The foundations of this formidable cathedral date back to 1011, when the site hosted a Benedictine abbey. The cathedral was rebuilt in Flamboyant Gothic…

5. Marché au Gras

7.51 MILES

Stock up on local produce like homemade jams, cheeses, liqueur-steeped pâté and bottles of Armagnac at this twice-weekly food market.

6. Château du Busca Maniban

9.36 MILES

This magnificent château, 10km south of Condom on the D229, has been distilling Armagnac since the mid-17th century. It's not the place for a guided…

7. Abbaye de Flaran

10.06 MILES

This serene Cistercian abbey is one of the loveliest in the Gers département. Founded in 1151 and guarded by a 14th-century fortress door, it was…

8. Les Jardins de Coursiana

13.12 MILES

These landscaped gardens in La Romieu were laid out in 1974 by a local agricultural engineer. More than 700 trees and rare plants flourish in the four…