Gascony is one of France’s best-kept secrets: rolling hills and old oak woods, hot summer sun and tumbling rivers flowing from the Pyrénées to the Atlantic ocean, sunflowers and cypress trees, wonderful food, wine and legendary Armagnac, fine medieval churches and ‘bastide’ villages. It’s a romantic country steeped in history. This is ancient ‘Occitan’, the land of Troubadours and Musketeers, and the country people today still speak the pre-French language of ‘Oc’ in the markets. The Gascon summer (“L’été Gascon”) can stretch sunny and warm from April to October, so spring and autumn here are also ideal for holidays.

Although just as far south as the better known French holiday destinations of Côte d’Azur and Provence, Gascony is completely different: this is the least populated and least polluted area of France, with practically no traffic, no crowds, no industry, unspoilt countryside, wonderful star-lit night skies and a clear, luminous sunlight. There is a flourishing country market somewhere nearby every day of the week where you can buy absolutely delicious vegetables, salads and fruits in their seasons, wild honey and locally produced jams, and a wide range of breads and cheeses. Gascony is rightly proud of its fresh fish, ‘Foie Gras’ and , locally reared meats – gourmet paradise!

There is an enormous variety of Gascony wines and liqueurs. As well as the wide range of delicate, pale, smooth Armagnacs, some of which can be very old, there is the delicious Armagnac based ‘aperitif’ Floc de Gascogne. The everyday drinking wines of the Côtes de Gascogne provide excellent value and there are the superior wines of Madiran, Buzet and Saint-Mont, all located in Gascony. There is not much to beat a glass of chilled Gascony rosé, sitting by the pool on a summer evening!

The region offers many activities, including lakes to swim in, rivers to fish, golf, tennis, horse-riding, bird-watching, hot-air ballooning and, within a couple of hours drive, the ski-resorts of the Pyrénées or the beaches of the Atlantic coast. For those wanting culture, there are ancient towns and villages to visit, full of architectural gems, many of which are associated with the two thousand year old pilgrim routes to Santiago de Compostela in north west Spain. During the summer months, practically every village has its own weekend ‘fête’, with music, dancing and local produce to eat and drink, where all visitors are made very welcome! Everywhere you go, you will see the richly varied ‘pigeonniers’ (dove houses) and the fascinating ‘bastide’ villages with their arcaded market places. On the eastern edge of Gascony, Toulouse (the Ville Rosé or "Pink City" because of its distinctive brick architecture) has a fine historic centre, excellent shops and restaurants, a famous university, and the superb Musée des Augustins. At the heart of Gascony is Auch, the capital of the modern ‘département’ of Le Gers, which covers most of the old Duchy of Gascony. Auch has a beautiful C15th Cathedral, bustling twice-weekly country market and a spoiling choice of over 50 restaurants and cafés.

Nearly all our Gascony properties can offer some catering, specialising in local food and wine. For those visitors who really want to enjoy good food and wine on holiday, and to have it produced for you, three of our larger and grander properties (Chateau de Lartigolle – 20 beds, Monastère de Halip -14 beds and Chateau Saint Aubin – 10 beds) offer a ‘Full Service’ option. This includes top quality catering and professional housekeeping and shopping. This is the way to a really spoiling holiday!

Visitors come to Gascony today to enjoy its deep sense of 'bien-être’. Once you have arrived this feeling will grow the longer you are able to stay and relax in this beautiful, welcoming and timeless corner of France.

There are international airports on the edge of Gascony, at Toulouse, Tarbes, Pau and Bordeaux, while fast (TGV) trains from Paris go to Agen and Toulouse.