Walking the Via Podiensis from Lectoure to Air-sur-l'Adour

Condom

As you enter the town of Condom the first thing that will grab your attention is the dominating feature of the Cathedral on the skyline of the town.  The Cathedral of St. Peter from the 16th Century has both Romanesque and Gothic features and as central point in the town is a must visit.  The impressive Cathedral however is not the only talking point about Condom, in fact it is the capital of Armagnac, so if you are partial, or not, to a tipple of this wine brandy why not visit the Armagnac Museum to find out about its production.

Montreal du Gers

A typical bastide town of the region and listed as one of the most beautiful villages of France, once you enter the old town and main square it does not disappoint.  The original town square and surrounding streets are very well preserved. Just off the town square you will find the 13th century Church of Sainte-Marie should you need some time for peaceful contemplation.  Or if you prefer to relax and people watch then grab a seat at one of the cafe’s in the arches around the square and watch the world go by. If you are feeling energetic you may also like to take a 2km stroll out of town to the ruins of of the Church of Saint-Pierre-de-Genens which was mostly destroyed during the religious wars in France, but a great spot for budding photographers!

Aire sur l’Adour

The Le Puy Camino circumvents the town of Aire sur l’Adour rather than going directly through it but it is well worth the small detour into town for a stop over. The town itself 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 bank.  In the lower section you will find Aire Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of St John the Baptist. With origins from the 11th Century, you can clearly see the influence of time and renovations that took place in the 14th and 17th century.  In the upper section of the town then you find the Gothic Church of St Quiteria which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here in the crypt lies the splendid, white marble sarcophagus of St Quiteria, dating from the 4th century!