Fargues-sur-Ourbise brings together architectural history and nature: from the Tour d’Avance Hospitaller commandery and protected churches to the Centre Départemental de la Nature et des Pratiques Cynégétiques, it offers a look at different aspects of the area. Signposted trails add a range of route lengths to the options.
Tower, wall and churches
The Tour d’Avance Hospitaller commandery was probably built at the beginning of the 13th century and is mentioned in 1260. The rectangular ashlar tower has four storeys. An projecting stair tower with a spiral staircase adjoins it. The date is given with some caution, while the structure’s shape, building material and number of storeys are specific features.
A rubble-stone perimeter wall connects the Tour d’Avance to an ashlar chapel to the south. Ashlar is dressed stone, cut into regular blocks; rubble stone consists of irregularly broken pieces. The wall and the chapel therefore use different materials, even though the wall connects them.
The Church of Saint-Cyr dates from the 16th century. Its chancel has a five-sided end, the nave has a star vault, and the windows feature flamboyant tracery. A star vault arranges the vault ribs in a star pattern; flamboyant tracery refers to Late Gothic window tracery with flame-like curves. The church and its fortified enclosure are protected as historic monuments: the church building was listed by decree dated 2 January 1929, and the enclosure by decree dated 26 July 1933.
The cemetery around Saint-Cyr also has distinctive architectural details. It is enclosed by high walls with loopholes and, in places, battlements. Loopholes are narrow openings in a defensive wall; battlements form its notched upper edge. These features give the cemetery wall a fortified appearance.
The parish church of Saint-Julien was probably built before the 14th century. It houses a 17th-century wooden PietĂ , protected as a movable historic monument since 1973. A PietĂ depicts Mary with the body of Christ. The older church and the sculpture therefore represent two different historical periods.
The covered burial gallery at Lumé is usually called the “Tomb of Gargantua” locally. As a covered funerary monument, its basic form differs from that of the churches, tower and chapel.
Nature and trails
The Ourbise rises in the hamlet of Saint-Julien. The Centre Départemental de la Nature et des Pratiques Cynégétiques presents local biodiversity through a permanent exhibition, observation stations and discovery trails. Two walking routes are signposted there. One is a fun circular trail suitable for younger children; one loop is three kilometres long. Check the Centre’s visitor arrangements before travelling.
The circular route “Fargues-sur-Ourbise, une île en forêt” is of moderate difficulty, 11.7 kilometres long and has 105 metres of elevation gain. The estimated time for the route is approximately three hours. By comparison, the three-kilometre loop is considerably shorter; no further information on its difficulty or duration is provided here. Check route conditions before setting out.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Sauveur-de-Meilhan, DĂ©villac, Cancon, SĂ©rignac-PĂ©boudou, Moulinet, Esclottes, Hautefage-la-Tour, Leyritz-Moncassin.
See the broader travel guide: Lot Et Garonne.
