© Renaud Camus
If you want to have a good time, come explore the Gascogne! This gorgeous region at the foot of the Pyrenees is where Armagnac and the world-famous Saint-Emilion are produced, – an admirable selection for wetting your whistle between visits to historical sites!
And if you like music, set a date for attending the Jazz in Marciac festival.
© Dominique VIET - CRT Midi-PyrénéesIf you like Jazz, you have heard of Marciac, where the festival has been graced by the likes of Bill & Lily Coleman, Richard Galliano, Diana Krall, Sonny Rollins and Marcus Miller. Acclaimed for almost forty years by a receptive and loyal audience, Marciac and the Gers have gained international renown thanks to the greatest names in Jazz.
More than 25,000 people attend the festival each year. Join them!
© Dominique VIET - CRT Midi-PyrénéesDo you know who Artagnan is? Visit Auch where you can admire the statue of the most famous of the ‘Three Musketeers’, immortalised by Alexandre Dumas. The statue greets visitors at the foot of a monumental staircase with 374 steps leading from the lower city to Place Salinis.
This rousing and digestive walk offers sweeping views of the Gers countryside. While you’re there, you can also explore the twisting medieval streets and terraced lanes, which will bring you to the Tour d’Armagnac and Auch Cathedral – a UNESCO World Heritage site.
© Dominique VIET - CRT Midi-PyrénéesNo visit to southwest France is complete without the delectable flavours of Armagnac! The winemakers of the Gers are sure to invite you to a tasting, where France’s oldest brandy will be served in a tulip-shaped glass, which best reveals its flavour.
Let your glass rest in the hollow of your hand and take small sips to savour your Armagnac while you listen to the long and incredible story of how it is produced…
© Frederic Bisson FlickrAs you approach Saint-Emilion, you see a medieval city perched atop a limestone bluff.
This historic town is not only a UNESCO World Heritage site, but also world-renowned for its vineyards and wines. At some point, you are sure to find yourself inside a wine cellar, where wine growers will share with you their passion for their trade, and the secrets of the art of wine tasting…
© OT CognacThe Château de Cognac is the birthplace of not only King Francis I, but also a famous cocktail made of cognac, grapefruit juice and spices – the Dame Eléanore, in homage to the king’s second wife.
So when you visit this historic site, remember to raise your glass in her honour, and be sure to get the recipe for the royal cocktail before you go!
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