Who here dreams of a holiday away from the crowds? Stays off the tourist trail, far from the metro, work and sleep, in a quiet place, perfect for reconnecting with the essential? We have found the ideal place for a holiday made up of cultural discoveries, rest and a break in the heart of nature: the village of Estipouy, in the Gers!
In the heart of the Gers, right next to the bastide town of Mirande, the village of Estipouy is located in the Occitanie region. 27 kilometres south-west of Auch and 55 kilometres north of Tarbes, this small, tiny village of less than 12 square kilometres has just over 200 inhabitants at any one time. Here, what jumps out at you when you arrive is the calm. The tranquility of the place, and the beauty of its abundant vegetation. Perched on its hillside at 256 meters above sea level, the village, former possession of the lords of Isle-d'Arbéchan, is housed between two plains bordered by the Baïse and Lizet rivers which meander through these fertile plains. In the past, a castle stood on top of a mound, but today it has been completely destroyed, leaving the village church as the only monument to be discovered. With its bell tower surmounted by an octagonal spire and its pretty Gothic portal, the Saint-Lizier church in Estipouy is well worth a visit. To the list of the small heritage of Estipouy, are added a calvary and a mill surrounded by splendid sunflowers, which you will have the leisure to discover during your walks under the sun.
When coming to Estipouy, walkers and other Sunday hikers will be able to indulge in their favourite activity thanks to several footpaths, which follow the routes of the GR653, the Chemin de Saint-Jacques, and many others in the direction of the Lac du Lizet. An artificial lake created to meet the water needs of Gascony, this splendid lake is home to many species of birds throughout the year, both around the lake and on the hillsides above it. Several routes through the Gers countryside are totally pedestrian friendly, but others are open to mountain bikes, allowing you to reach the Lac de la Baradée (a fishing and hiking site), the Lac de Miélan (perfect for a canoe or pedal boat ride), the Château de Bassoues (14 kilometres away), Mirande (worth a visit for its ramparts, cathedral and half-timbered facades) or the town of Auch. In addition to its historic centre full of splendid monuments, its Sainte-Marie cathedral, its monumental staircase and its banks on the Gers, Auch is the perfect place to sit down and discover the gastronomy of the Gers. Magrets, goose and duck foie gras, confits, farm poultry, aïgo boulido (garlic broth), Gascony beef, Tarbais beans, Adour kiwis, melons, goat's cheese and other delicacies with honey will delight the taste buds of young and old alike!
Eco-site open all yearPresentation6 km from Mirande and 24 km from Auch, in the Gers, a rural and picturesque department located between Toulouse and...
