Activities in the Gers - Gascony:
There is something for everyone in Gascony. And Condom is the perfect base for countless excursions. Many towns (including Condom) offer swimming pools or sandy-beach lakes for sailing, canoeing, windsurfing, and diving. Condom is a great town for Antiquing. Beautiful golf courses nearby (most with excellent reasonably priced restaurants), horse racing, horse riding, bullfighting, tennis, flying & microlighting, spas and thermal cures, museums. Theme parks - one features the environment, another allows young & old to walk in the treetops. Boating and Canoeing: Hop on a lunch or dinner cruise, or hire your own to explore the River Baise. Classical music concerts: Condom offers weekly concerts during the summer. Visit the Musée d'Armagnac & learn how it differs from Cognac. Explore dozens of picturesque nearby villages, or venture a bit further: Atlantic Coast (Biarritz, etc.), the stunning medieval city of Toulouse, Bordeaux, Pau, & the Pyrenees (for hiking or skiing).
Wine, Dine, Armagnac, and Markets:
You are a short walk to many superb local restaurants. Enjoy memorable (& great value) dining. Dining in Armagnac, duck, and Foie Gras country is a highlight of Gascon life. Just 2 hours from Mediterranean & the Atlantic, seafood too is wonderful. Gascons are justly proud of their wines, Armagnac & floc (a local aperitif). Try a Pousse Rapiere from chateau St. Puy – add it to their sparkling wine, drink, then sit. Wine tasting & ancient Armagnac chateaux tours (21 nearby) are available year round for tours & tasting. Condom is a market town: Wednesdays & Saturdays. Daily you will want to try the many local bakeries, fruit/veggie stands, the fish monger & specialty food shops. Bring home local produce, meat & fish to your gourmet kitchen, open a nice local wine, & dine al fresco on the terrace. If you love the markets, festivals, sunflowers, beauty, history & cuisine of rural France, holiday in Gascony. They say Gascons live longest of all in France. Holiday here - you will understand.
Festivals, Outdoor Music, Fêtes, Vide Greniers:
From April on, towns begin their Vide Greniers (car boot sales without cars), open air markets, & annual fêtes. Each weekend has several beckoning - we try to visit them all. The fêtes normally offer food & local produce for sale, music, lunch or dinner & dancing under the stars. Annual music festivals include the internationally famous jazz at Marciac, Country Music in Mirande, Tempo Latino in Vic Fezensac, Condom's frequent classical music events & Condom's annual Bandas festival in May, Agricultural festivals, Garlic & more. Live music is featured at most outdoor events. Churches & cathedrals, notably the nearby Abbeye de Flaran, offer concerts throughout the year. Each of the dozens of local towns & villages are picturesque & worth a visit. Many are a mere 10 minute drive. Great opportunities to meet welcoming locals, enjoy the ambiance, the refreshment, and dance. I keep a big notebook at the house with info, suggestions & contact detail for tons of local activities & events.
Other Activities:
wine tasting, armagnac tasting
Learn more about this holiday rental at the owner's website:
