Le Mas-d’Agenais is situated on a limestone terrace overlooking the Garonne. Two sides of the town provide a clear guide to planning a stay: its artistic and architectural history, centred on the Collégiale Saint-Vincent and the Vieille halle au blé, and its cycling routes and boating options. This lets you decide whether to focus on historic buildings, a cycling route or time on the water.

Art and architectural history in the town

The Vieille halle au blé is located in the heart of Le Mas-d’Agenais and has been listed as a historic monument since 6 April 2022. Historical accounts of its origins are tentative: the hall is said to have been built in 1616, apparently using old beams from the former castle. The hall, located in the town centre, can be visited along the Canal des 2 Mers à Vélo route. This allows you to combine a visit to the building with planning this cycling route.

Another highlight is the Collégiale Saint-Vincent. It houses Rembrandt’s painting “Le Christ sur la Croix”; the “Rembrandt – Les Secrets d'un tableau” experience explains how the painting came to Le Mas-d'Agenais. The architecture is also noteworthy: the church dates largely from the 12th century. Its east end comprises an apse and two subsidiary apses, as well as numerous sculpted modillions, or projecting supports on the building. The Collégiale is classified as a historic monument. It is open to visitors free of charge; guided tours are available by appointment only.

The Chapelle Saint-Benoît is also part of the town’s architectural history. It is a remnant of the former convent of the Dames de Saint-Benoît, founded in 1645, and has a richly decorated Baroque interior. It is advisable to check in advance whether it is open to visitors. Another small element of the town’s history is the five-sided Fontaine-lavoir Galiane washhouse. It is fed by a spring known since antiquity.

Cycling routes and other trails

The Canal des 2 Mers à Vélo route passes through Le Mas-d’Agenais. It is described as a safe route with no significant climbs. A shortened section from Marmande to Damazan is just under 30 kilometres long and includes Le Mas-d’Agenais. These route details offer different points of reference for your planning: one describes the route through the town, the other the length of a specific section.

Another route, “Le Mas d’Agenais, de la forêt aux coteaux,” starts near the Maison forestière. The route information highlights different details: for the Canal route, it gives route characteristics and a section between two towns; for the “de la forêt aux coteaux” route, it gives the starting point. If you compare cycling routes and trails, keep these details in mind as they apply to the respective routes.

Boating on the Canal de Garonne

The Canal de Garonne at Le Mas-d’Agenais has a lock and a nautical mooring for boat travellers. The “La Massaise” boat trip departs from the Cale du club de Canoë in Le Mas-d'Agenais. It lasts one hour in total, including boarding and disembarking. This gives you a clear idea of the time involved if you would like to include a short boat trip in your plans.

The Péniche Wakaï, moored in Le Mas-d’Agenais, offers a different format: its options include day cruises with lunch on board as well as multi-day cruises. The choice therefore ranges from the one-hour “La Massaise” trip to day and multi-day cruises on the Péniche Wakaï. Check the current dates for the boating options as you plan your trip. Along with the buildings and routes, these options give you a range of different ways to plan your stay in Le Mas-d’Agenais.

Discover more destinations: Sauveterre-La-Lémance, Saint-Hilaire-De-Lusignan, Miramont-De-Guyenne, Pujols, Coulx, Saint-Colomb-De-Lauzun, Baleyssagues, Savignac-De-Duras.

For the wider travel overview: Lot Et Garonne.