VALLONS VALLÉES ET COTEAUX EN ASTARAC

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 MIELAN : Bastide founded in 1284. Chapel dedicated to Saint John the Baptist built in 1823 to perpetuate the memory of a church prior to the foundation of the bastide which disappeared after the Revolution. Promenades that welcomed Napoleon I and Josephine in 1808. Bailiff's house (18th century). POUYLEBON : Old fortified village. Castle of the XVIII, private. Church of Sainte-Anne. Long distance hiking trail on the way to St Jacques de Compostelle. BASSOUES: 13th century fortified town, 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. MONTESQUIOU : Castelnau, perched village. Remains of the old fortifications including a beautiful gate, old houses. Church of Romanesque origin, reworked. 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. Return to MIRANDE, place d'Astarac.