Auch
This fine town is brimful of heritage attractions and events, making it a great place for families, friends and couples to visit at any time of year.
Auch, historic capital of Gascony and Gers and Art and History district.
Gourmet food lovers can discover emblematic specialities in town centre restaurants. Walkers, joggers and cyclists can admire the fine town from paths along the banks of the River Gers which runs through it. Every year numerous events are held like Ciné 32 film festival the first weekend of October and Cirque Actuel at the end of October which attract many visitors to the town and its surroundings.
Whether you arrive from the east or the west, your gaze is inevitably drawn to the majestic Cathedral of Sainte-Marie which towers over the town. It took 200 years to build (1489 - 1680), which explains its variety of styles : Gothic Flamboyant for the most part with a Renaissance façade flanked by 2 towers 44m high. The cathedral is one of the richest and last Gothic cathedrals in France. Its dimensions are astonishing : 100m long and 40m wide. Not far from the building, a monumental flight of 234 steps, completed in 1863, links the historic town to the new town 35 metres below. On the first terrace in front of the fountain stands a contemporary sculpture : « Observatoire du temps » created by the Catalan artist Jaume Plensa in 1992. The inscribed words describing the biblical Great Flood recall the disastrous floods which devastated the town in 1977. The other part of the work « Abri impossible » is at the end of the footbridge on the opposite bank of the river. There is a splendid view of the Gers Valley from the lower terrace.
In and around Auch
On a clear day, on the southern horizon behind the line of hills you can see the Pyrenees. At the bottom of the steps stands a bronze statue of the most famous Gascon, Charles de Batz, better known as d’Artagnan, Captain of the King’s Musketeers, born at Château de Castelmore in Lupiac, a village about 40km from Auch. Other attractions in Auch include the Musée des Jacobins, a museum full of ancient treasures, the Musée Memento which showcases contemporary art works, the Musée des Trésors de la Cathédrale at the foot of the Tour d’Armagnac, the Italian theatre and Salle des Illustres in the Mairie (town hall), the famous ‘pousterles’ - five steep medieval streets and steps which are one of the curiosities of Auch.
Two weekly markets take place in Auch, on Thursday morning in the Lower Town and Saturday morning in the Upper Town. Both provide a wonderful opportunity to discover local produce. You can go horse riding at one of the riding centres near Auch, play golf, go walking in the woods or fly over the town in a glider from Auch-Lamothe airport. Auch is also a stopover on the pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostela (GR653 from Arles to Santiago de Compostela).
Top tip from Clémentine from Gîtes de France, Gers
« What I love most about Auch is the way the cathedral attracts your gaze. Whichever way you come into the town, you can see it standing majestically in the Upper Town. It’s an absolute must to visit.»
Auch can be reached by car via the N124 from east or west and the N21 from north or south. It is 78km from Toulouse (about 1 hour drive), 70km Agen (about 1¼ hour drive), 72km from Tarbes (about 1¼ hour drive) and 80km from Aire sur l’Adour. It is on the railway line Auch-Toulouse. The nearest airports are Toulouse-Blagnac (1 hour drive) and Tarbes-Lourdes (1½ hours).
SatNav : Cathedral AUCH : 43.646433 0.585159
Continue your discovery tour of the Gers at Lectoure with its hot springs, Condom capital of Armagnac or Éauze and its treasure !"
