ABBEYS & CASTLES
CISTERCIAN ABBEY
SAINTE MARIE of BOULAUR - Point GPS
Just 9 minutes from the house, come and visit this abbey steeped in history. Founded in 1142, the Abbey of BOULAUR depended on Fontrevrault. From the beginning until the revolution, it was a monastery for noble girls. The church, partly rebuilt in the 14th century, contains paintings attributed to the school of Giotto which, through their finesse and the originality of its decorations, make the Boulaur church a unique place and a remarkable example of 14th century art. .
Today it is home to a community of Cistercian nuns, dependent on the Order of Cîteaux, whose life is governed by singing and work in the fields on a small farm whose products they transform and sell in their monastic store ( jams, pâtés, flour, cheese and beer). Possibility of attending liturgical services sung in Gregorian.
Tél : 05 62 65 40 07
CLOSED
see on the SITE
Store open
every day during the summer
CHURCH SAINT CERASE
OF SIMORRE - Point GPS
Just 13 minutes from the house, you can visit this surprising and magnificent Church at the same time.
This 14th century abbey church is very beautiful, built mainly of bricks, in the great Toulouse tradition.
One of the jewels of this church is the stalls carved in the 15th century. The panels are very beautiful and also represent the baptism of Clovis, tradition attributing to him the creation of the first church of Simorre, in homage to Saint Cerase, evangelist of the country in the 5th century.
After or before, you can also visit the Paysan d’Émile museum which is located in the same village of Simorre.
Tél : 05 62 65 36 34
CLOSED
Never
OPEN
24h/24
CATHEDRAL SAINTE MARIE
OF AUCH - Point GPS
Only 34 minutes from the house, visit this magnificent Cathedral and also the city of Auch. This cathedral is one of the last Gothic cathedrals in France and one of the richest.
Its construction lasted two hundred years (1489 - 1680), which explains the variety of styles: Flamboyant Gothic for the entire work, and Renaissance for the facade framed by 2 towers with a height of 44 m.
Of surprising dimensions (100 m long and 40 m wide) Inside there are multiple treasures to discover including:
• the stained glass windows by Arnaud de Moles, which are among the most beautiful stained glass windows of the 16th century.
• The oak wood choir, composed of high stalls and low stalls where more than 1,500 characters are sculpted, representing an iconographic ensemble of incomparable richness.
• The large organ from the 17th century.
Sainte-Marie Cathedral is a major site on the routes to Santiago de Compostela, classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Tél : 05 62 05 22 89
CLOSED
Call the Tourist Office
05 62 05 22 89
OPEN
Call the Tourist Office
05 62 05 22 89
The Castel of Caumont, 28 minutes from the gîte from where you can enjoy a superb view of the Pyrenees, is made up of two buildings:
• The old castle built on the site of a fortified castle that belonged to Gaston Phébus; it is the oldest part, with more typically medieval architecture, dating from the 15th century. It is what remains of the original castle. This part now covers the reception rooms and the boutique reception.
• And the current Renaissance castle whose construction lasted from 1525 to 1535. This building owes its nickname “Castle of the Loire in Gascony” to its very particular architecture, emblematic of the castles of the Loire. Indeed, this Renaissance jewel was built by Pierre de Nogaret de La Valette on his return from the Italian wars which he fought with Francis I, drawing inspiration from the Italian Renaissance. Caumont saw the birth of Jean-Louis de Nogaret de la Valette in 1554, who became Duke of Epernon by the grace of Henry III whom he served before Henry IV and Louis XIII. He embellished Caumont who became a witness to his power. Henri IV came to visit him several times and the room in which he slept has been preserved. Caumont has also perpetuated this tradition of welcoming sovereigns by receiving a visit from the Queen of England, Queen Mum in 1988.
Tél : 05 62 07 94 20
CLOSED
see on the SITE
OPEN
see on the SITE
