Barcelonne-du-Gers lies on the right bank of the Adour, on the border with the Landes department and at the western entrance to the Gers department. For travel planning, a historic bastide, regional culture and routes connected with the river come together here. You can explore the area through its historic layout, individual buildings or walking and hiking opportunities.
Bastide and architectural history
The bastide of Cosset was built around 1316 and soon took the name Barcelonne. Its historic layout included a square and eight main streets laid out at right angles. The town was surrounded by a wall with four gates and double drawbridges; there was also a double, water-filled moat. The square, street network and fortifications offer different insights into the design of the bastide: the townscape featured both a clearly ordered centre and several defensive structures.
The Church of Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel dates from the 16th century and has a square bell tower. Its Flamboyant-style portal is dated to the late 15th or early 16th century. The church thus brings together architectural features from two periods that are close in time but distinct. The roof structure of the washhouse is made from timber from the former market hall—a tangible link between two historic buildings.
The former uses of some buildings are also part of Barcelonne’s history: the former prison was originally a water tower and was later used as a holding cell and overnight shelter. These changing functions add another perspective on the town’s history.
Culture and landscape along the Adour
The arenas of Barcelonne-du-Gers have hosted the Gascogne cultural tradition of Course landaise for five centuries. Alongside the history of the bastide, this long-standing regional tradition is also part of the municipality’s cultural character.
The Bois de Casamont lies on a hillside above the Adour and has walking trails. The remains of the Château de Jeanne d’Albret are also located in the same wood. The site therefore encompasses both a riverside landscape and historic traces within the Bois. Local trail conditions may change; check them before setting out for a walk.
Routes and travel times
The 94-kilometre Sentier de l’Adour runs between Barcelonne-du-Gers—two kilometres from Aire-sur-l’Adour in the Landes department—and Bazet in the Hautes-Pyrénées department. The route is accessible to walkers, horse riders and mountain bikers. It offers a way to experience the landscapes connected with the river, as well as the area’s nature, architecture, history and culture. It therefore offers a broader perspective on the surroundings than looking at the river alone.
The estimated travel times for the route from Barcelonne-du-Gers to Gée-Rivière are 1 hour 40 minutes on foot, 35 minutes by mountain bike and 50 minutes on horseback. This comparison applies to this section only: walking takes the longest, mountain biking the shortest, and the time on horseback falls in between. Local trail conditions and the route may change. Check both before setting out.
The Camino de Santiago (Chemin de Compostelle) also passes through the municipality. For anyone interested in this route, its passage through Barcelonne-du-Gers provides another specific point of reference for travel planning.
Discover more destinations: Sarraguzan, Gaujac, Saint-Mont, Ségos, Mauvezin, Gée-Rivière, Monlaur-Bernet, Arrouède
For the broader travel overview: Gers.
