VOYAGE EN COEUR D'ASTARAC 2

Departure from MIRANDE : Ancient fortified bastide of the XIIIth century. Remains of ramparts. Square surrounded by covered areas. Tower of the Counts of Astarac visible from the market hall. Beautiful church of southern Gothic type (MH) 14th, with a surprising porch bell tower, stained glass from the 15th and other beautiful stained glass from the 19th. Carved western porch. Town hall and sub-prefecture in two superb Second Empire buildings. Museum of Fine and Decorative Arts. A must-see: the Mazerettes chapel, built in the 10th century. Interesting Romanesque building with a semi-circular chevet supported by two Lombard lines. Beautiful portal giving access to the only nave. Then LAMAZERE Castral mound on the west side of the church. It is an artificial elevation of 5 m in height and 38 m in diameter which was abandoned in the 12th century in favour of the present castle. A small, beautifully crafted stone arch bridge spanning the Petite Baïse, at a place called "Charles", located on the former railway line. L'ISLE DE NOE : Castle of the Counts of Noé, 18th century, with park. Exhibition in the castle in July and August. Church XIIIth reworked. Located on the road to St Jacques de Compostelle ESTIPOUY: Church placed under the invocation of Saint Lizier. Of fairly recent construction, it would have succeeded an older building. Gothic portal and bell tower topped by an octagonal spire. MONTESQUIOU : Castelnau, a perched village. Remains of the old fortifications including a beautiful gate, old houses. Church of Romanesque origin, reworked. CASTELNAU D'ANGLES: Village-street. Tower-porch at the entrance, which became the bell tower of the church. BASSOUES: 13th century bastide, beautiful 16th century market hall lined with half-timbered houses. Castle of the archbishops. 14th century keep, the finest example of military architecture in the Gers (MH). Church of Notre-Dame (14th century) with a beautiful pieta and a stone pulpit (MH) and Basilica of Saint Fris (15th century) with a sculpted Renaissance portal. ARMOUS ET CAU: Located on the "Caesar's road", an ancient route that once linked Bordeaux to the Pyrenees without crossing a bridge or ford. From the church (19th century), there is a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside LOUSLITGES: Saint Pierre church (9th century, modified in the 12th century). Interesting wild flora, including about twenty species of wild orchids that can be admired in season along the roads and paths. MASCARAS : Beautiful panorama on the surrounding countryside. Saint Peter's Church rebuilt in the 19th century in the architectural tradition of the country with a bell wall. Antique stone baptismal font. Return to MIRANDE.