What to visit in Gers in winter?

Winter is a season that holds many surprises for those who know how to appreciate it. In the Gers, winter offers simple pleasures such as sightseeing, sampling the region's rich cuisine, and meeting new people. The Gers is a surprising and natural area, and in winter, the light will amaze you. On clear days, the paths crunch under the frost, sometimes offering magnificent views of the snow-covered Pyrenees. Here are a few ideas for enjoying winter in the Gers.

Visit the charming villages of Gers in winter

Gers is a department boasting numerous pretty villages and charming towns with a peaceful and authentic atmosphere. Whether you follow in the footsteps of D'Artagnan and the Musketeers or explore the Gascon history that has unfolded here for centuries, you will be captivated by the architecture and the adventures of the various figures who have shaped the history of Gers. Lace up your shoes and wander the cobbled streets and bastides, which sometimes take on a frosty appearance in winter.

• Discover Auch, the capital of Gers, is best explored on foot or by bike. All year round, it's an attractive city with a great cultural program. Don't miss its beautiful Sainte-Marie Cathedral and its views of the surrounding countryside.
• Visit Fleurance, a medieval bastide town dating back to the 13th century. Perched on a hill, it is ideal for strolling in winter, outside the tourist season.
• In Saint-Clar-de-Lomage, you will discover the region's traditional white garlic. It is also a very beautiful bastide town.
• We'll take you on a tour of Mauvezin, the upper town and the lower town. It's the perfect place to discover the duck of the southwest in all its forms.
• Take a virtual tour of Lomagne, thanks to an audio guide that can be downloaded directly to your smartphone; it's convenient and works all year round.
• Sarrant is one of the most beautiful villages in France, a small, typical village of Gers worth discovering.
• And one more! Montréal-du-Gers is also one of the most beautiful villages in France, on the Way of St. James to Compostela.
• The small town of Lectoure awaits you to discover its characteristic blue; it is more than a color, it is a way of life, a plant, a pigment and a know-how.
• Visit Lavardens and its medieval castle, stroll through the town for a journey back in time.
• The circular bastide of Fourcès holds some surprises; it is very small but deserves a stop!
• Visit La Romieu, its collegiate church and learn more about its legend of cats by walking between the charming little streets.
• Are we still in the Gers? They say that Larressingle is the Little Carcassonne of the Gers. Entirely surrounded by ramparts and clad in stone!

Discover the gastronomy of Gers

Whether you choose to dine in one of Gers' restaurants or browse the local produce and supplies found in one of the region's traditional markets, you'll find no shortage of delicious options. Everything has its season, so not all delicacies may be available, but when it comes to duck, goose, and all the products made from these two kings of the barnyard, the traditional Gers canneries that produce foie gras will certainly make your mouth water.

An encounter with Armagnac, the brown gold of Gers!

Gers is wine country ! The wines, but especially Armagnac and its derivatives like Floc de Gascogne, are waiting to be discovered. Winter (early, but particularly autumn) is the season of the Armagnac Festival (from October to the end of January, depending on the estate), when the stills distill the precious eau-de-vie. It's also a wine region stretching between Gers and the nearby Landes, where you can meet Armagnac producers and visit prestigious châteaux for tours and tastings.

Go hiking and walking in the Gers countryside

The Gers countryside will reveal itself, we promise, in its most beautiful light on a fine winter's day along its trails. The Balcony of the Pyrenees offers breathtaking walks with the snow-capped Pyrenees mountains as a backdrop. Superb panoramas await you, perched high on the peaks.

The hills are incredible, offering spectacular scenery sometimes stretching all the way to the snow-capped Pyrenees.

Read our article on the must-do hikes in Gers, and to keep the kids enthusiastically engaged, consider the packages offered by Randoland, which lets you explore France as a family with guided walks featuring riddles and games for children and teenagers. Outside of peak season, you can even try out some orienteering courses and trails that remain accessible.

Visit the Termes Tower, open all year round

Warm up in the Gers region at Termes-d'Armagnac, a surprising medieval site that will take you on a journey through time. Built in the 13th century, it proudly displays Gascon architecture and rises above the Adour and Arros valleys. These verdant landscapes are visible from the keep's terrace, after you've explored the museum's exhibits, which offer an engaging and informative tour of the site's history. From the kitchen and armory to the lord's chamber, each room has its own unique character, explained during a guided tour. Explore the Tower of Termes at your leisure; you might be surprised to see a blacksmith, a potter, or a woodworker at work, bringing these Late Medieval crafts back to life. Throughout the year, activities are offered, including workshops, demonstrations, cabaret evenings, and major events, such as those held during the Christmas season. Don't hesitate to ask about the program to make the most of every special moment at the Tour de Termes.

TAKE CULTURAL VISITS IN THE GERS REGION IN WINTER

Not all of them are open in winter, but most of the major cultural and historical sites in Gers are accessible. Read our article on the Museums of Gers and make your choice. Check their websites beforehand.

Some practical tips for visiting the Gers in winter

This beautiful region can be explored in any season, with a particularly peaceful atmosphere in winter. To help you make the most of your getaway, the Gers Guide offers some practical advice:

• Check the opening hours of the sites you wish to visit, as some close earlier in the off-season.
• Book your visits and tastings in advance, especially in the Armagnac region, which is in high demand at the end of the year.
• Pack warm clothes; winter can bring significant temperature drops at night and in the morning.
• Adopt a slower pace in winter to enjoy the cozy atmosphere of the villages. Ordering a warm coffee while chatting with the shopkeepers or discussing with the producers at the markets, what a pleasure to take your time.

We wish you a wonderful winter holiday in the Gers!

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