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Holidays in the Gers department of Midi_Pyrenees region of South West France

The Gers department of the Midi-Pyrenees region is one of the least populated areas of France.  With rolling countryside and hundreds of small villages, it really is a sleepy, get away from it all kind of place.

It is probably not the place to visit in the winter unless you are looking for complete solitude and isolation.  The Midi-Pyrenees can be quiet away from ski resorts during winter but the Gers will be hibernating until spring.  During the summer, the temperatures can easily reach the high thirties and over forty degrees is not unknown.

Auch is the capital of the department and has quite a lively atmosphere with street cafes and bars in the district around the cathedral.  The cathedral itself is worth a visit and there are many narrow streets to wander around, plus the Monumental Staircase, that leads down to the river.  It is a pleasant area to while away a few hours.

Gers also has many bastides and of particular note is Fources, which is one of the few built with a round central “square”.  In common with other bastides the square is surrounded by arcades with bars and shops.  The town is listed by Les Plus Beaux Villages des France – the most beautiful villages of France.

A visit to Gers would not be complete without sampling the local Armagnac, something that has attracted tourists to the department for centuries.  There are many Armagnac museums including one in the quaintly named town of Condom!

Marciac is another bastide town, but is much better known for its annual Jazz festival, which is now one of the biggest in Europe, and there are regular jazz events throughout the year

Another famous connection to the Gers department is that of d’Artagnan, the fourth musketeer.  He was created by Alexander Dumas, but based on a real life character from the Gers and there is now a d’Artagnan museum in the village

of Lupiac.

With its gentle rolling countryside and traffic free roads, the Gers is an ideal location for cycling and walking holidays.  There are plenty of small towns and villages with a café or bar to grab drink or some lunch, so excursions can be as long or as short as you want.

Take a look at our accommodation section to find your ideal away from it all holiday.  There is more information on the Gers in our regional information pages and don’t forget to look in MyGuide2.

If you have visited the area before, then we would love to hear what you thought of the Gers and those special places you found.  There is a Gers group in MyGuide2 just for that and you can post your pictures and videos as well.

Check out Guide2MidiPyrenees for Property in Midi-Pyrenees, Events, News, Classifieds, Places to Stay, Midi-Pyrenees Attractions and Business Directory.