On holidays in fourcès

Would you like to discover a picturesque village in the Gers? Welcome to Fourcès, unique round bastide in the Gers! This curiosity is more than worthwhile, beyond its shape, Fourcès is one of the most beautiful villages of France. Very well located, it is a very pleasant place for a stroll under its arcades, its small shops to browse in, its surrounding wilderness and its delicious restaurants. It is in the Carroussel Gourmand, a restaurant/tea room, with an art gallery and very beautiful guest rooms (Du côté de chez Jeanne) that we are going for a long weekend of discoveries and you are invited too!

Flavours, between the vines and the valleys...

It is the name that we have given to this territory where Fourcès is located. We have not been very audacious, as all around us are vines and valleys! In Fourcès, you are very well located for wine tourism; and few kilometres away there are many castles and wineries; discover the traditions of the Armagnac and the divine Floc de Gascogne.

The main square and its beautiful square tower

Fourcès, the round bastide of the Gers

It is with this famous Gers aperitif (mixing 2/3 grape juice and a 1/3 Armagnac) that we start our lunch, in the sun on the terrace of the Carroussel Gourmand. We are warmly welcomed and the menu is attractive: fresh produce from the Gers, all homemade and well presented! I sneak into the kitchen to meet Marie- Pierre and David, our hosts. Passionnate about the decoration and the pleasure of hosting, they put their hearts into their restaurant. Their kitchen is equipped with all the tools of the top chefs . For example, to prepare the terrines, foies-gras and other delicacies, they use a professional vacuum cooking appliance guaranteeing a perfect preparation and mastering the process of conservation of their dishes.

Restaurant the Carroussel Gourmand and above the guest rooms

We got seated and ordered a gourmet selection of cheeses, terrines and salads. Served with a local wine (it would be a shame not to drink a local wine!), we are indulging! My son chose a grown up dish, a delicious duck Parmentier which he really enjoyed! Between bites, he is playing in the main square between the trees, where the sun plays hide and seek through the broad leaf trees.

Salad for starter

Homemade delicacies plates

Another gourmet plate

Gourmet coffee as indicated by its name

Yummmm the croustade, one of my favourite desserts!

Hugo is going to play on the main square

Elegant and comfortable guest bedrooms for successful holidays!

After a delicious gourmet coffee and some petit fours, we unpack our suitcases and settle in our beautiful guest room (Du côté de chez Jeanne) located just above the restaurant (which is not open during the evening). The old stone building is sumptuously refurbished around a central stone and metal staircase. Our bedroom is spacious and light, with a dressing room and a large bathroom. We visited the other bedrooms, which are all decorated with care and taste, the bathrooms are large and with pleasantly furnished, soft to the touch and modern.

The beautiful staircase

A welcoming landing

Landing leading to the bedrooms

Our bedroom

Our bathroom

Our twin bedroom

Double bedroom

Lovely decoration in the double bedroom

Corner office and beautiful half –timbered wall

High quality bedding

Let’s go for a walk! First, Fourcès: its round main square, is square tower, its surrounding natural environment, such as the beautiful walk along the canal, its castle. Then, we take the car in the direction of Larressingle. The town is beautiful in the autumnal light. We eat an ice-cream (artisanal and exquisite), then we carry on our tour with regular stops to admire the Gers’ countryside. We arrive in Montréal-du-Gers, lovely little town, where we appreciate the viewpoint and the beautiful collegiate church. By then it is time for dinner, so we find a place to eat and then we return to our beautiful guest room to relax. Tomorrow, we will visit a vineyard a few kilometres away where Armagnac is distilled. Then, we will go to the Abbaye de Flaran, not far from Valence-sur-Baïse and to finish, to the Gallo- Roman villa of Seviac. But for now, it is bedtime!

In the morning, we are awaken by the birds and so we head for the breakfast room. It is the most important meal of the day, and here we are spoiled! I enjoy a homemade rice pudding and cream, melting and creamy. A fresh orange juice squeezed by our son, toasts, fresh pastries, homemade jam and local honey…It is a gourmet heaven!

A day of new discoveries is waiting for you, so when are you coming to the Carroussel Gourmand Restaurant and the guests bedrooms “Du côté de chez Jeanne”, to visit the region?