Lectoure to Aire Sur L’adour

Lectoure is a pretty fortified town that keeps history alive and where visitors can take time to visit the old impressive cathedral, the Castle of the Earls of Armagnac, the 18th Century tannery, the archaeological museum, and more. Visitors can also treat themselves to the natural spas or simply enjoy strolling around the narrow streets of this market town set in the Gers Valley.

Leaving Lectoure, we head down to the river Le Gers which we cross over before continuing through the countryside. We then reach the village of Marsolan and its Romanesque church. It is then a very enjoyable stroll between woodland and open countryside until we reach La Romieu and its UNESCO World Heritage collegiate church.

Today is a relatively short day. While the first half is mainly spent on dirt tracks through the gently undulating countryside dotted with lakes and streams, the second half brings us into direct contact with history. Indeed, passing by Larresingle (known as ‘the little Carcassonne’), lovers of fold stone buildings will be bowled over. Finally, we arrive in Montreal du Gers and its timber houses, the proud home of the biggest vineyard of Armagnac, the famous brandy in the region.

From Montreal du Gers, the Via Podiensis heads south towards Eauze. The first 8km are spent between countryside and vineyards, and the first hamlet we cross is Lamothe. The Camino then runs through the quiet vineyards and countryside of Armagnac. The walk ends up on Place d’Armagnac in Eauze, another beautiful village and the official capital of Armagnac since 1802!

We continue through the vineyards of Armagnac to reach the pretty town of Manciet, a historical point on the Camino as this is where, in the Middle Ages, Pilgrims coming from Auch met those walking on theVia Podiensis or Le Puy route and consequently started using the Le Puy trail more regularly. The route then runs through the countryside and at the end of the day we arrive in Nogaro.

Today, the Landes influence is more and more obvious as vines become rarer and pine trees start to appear in their place. We start our day mainly walking through cereal fields. The day is also punctuated with some of the prettiest villages and hamlets of the entire section, such as Lanne-Soubiran and Barcelonne-du-Gers. At the end of the walk, we enter Les Landes département in another charming town rich in history: Aire-sur-L’Adour.

After breakfast, we bid you farewell. The town is split between the lower section that sits alongside the banks of the Adour river and the upper section that slopes up from the river. Explore this beautiful riverside town at your leisure and sample some of the local cuisine.