In Castelnau-Barbarens, the layout of the houses, surviving sections of wall and historic church buildings tell the story of the town’s development. There are also trails to local springs and views across the village to the Arrats Valley and, on a clear day, the Pyrenees. This makes it possible to tailor a stay to different interests, focusing on the history of the hilltop settlement, architecture or the trails described here.
The hilltop settlement and its architectural remains
The houses curve around the hill and developed around a central castle—a typical layout for a hilltop settlement. From the 12th century onward, Castelnau-Barbarens was one of the four castellanĂas of Astarac. Those interested in the settlement’s layout can look at how the town and traces of its fortifications are connected to the hill.
From Chemin Midi-des-Fossés, you can see a stretch of defensive wall, now pierced by openings. The adjoining gardens occupy the former dry moats. Traces of the former castle also survive: retaining walls with clearly visible, well-laid stone courses. These details provide tangible points of reference in the historic townscape, without requiring any single building to be the sole focus.
The surviving bell tower belonged to the former church of Castelnau-Barbarens and dates from around the 13th century. The Notre-Dame-de-Pitié Chapel is also a surviving part of the former church. It is thought to date from the 16th century; its floor plan, divided over several levels, is adapted to the steep hillside. The lower section contains an area with a rib vault, which may date from the 14th century. The church of Sainte-Quitterie houses reliquary busts of Saint Nicholas and Saint Quitterie from the former church.
Spring trails and viewpoints
One specifically described circular route is the Chemin des Sources et des Bains: this eight-kilometre trail leads to the local springs. It starts at Place Centulle 1er, near the town hall at the top of the village. Check local trail conditions before setting out. This is separate from the four waymarked hiking trails that lead from the upper part of the village to other hamlets in the commune. While the circular route has a named distance and a circular destination, the four trails lead to other hamlets; the right choice therefore depends on whether you are looking for a loop to the springs or a trail toward another hamlet.
From the orientation panel, you can take in the village; on a clear day, the view also extends to the Arrats Valley and the Pyrenees range. At the Tumulus lakes, a continuously flowing spring feeds two lakes. They were once used for fish farming. The springs of La Quèque, in turn, are associated with former baths: from 1840 to 1964, spa guests stayed there for weeks at a time. These are distinct stories connecting water and landscape, each offering an opportunity to explore further.
Guided tours and seasonal information
The Pays d’art et d’histoire service of Grand Auch Cœur de Gascogne regularly organizes guided tours. If a tour fits your travel plans, check the current program in advance. The Notre-Dame-de-Pitié Chapel serves as a tourist information point; confirm its seasonal availability locally.
The large Rondèu Festival is also part of the town’s cultural offering: Lo Rondèu holds it in Castelnau-Barbarens in odd-numbered years. If you want to plan your trip around the festival, check the dates for the relevant edition. Nearby, you can also see the 1901 wooden cross of Copolis. It was restored in 1959 in memory of the parish priest of Lepreisse.
Discover more destinations: Courties, Fleurance, Marciac, Fourcès, Lamothe-Goas, Lombez, Gazax-et-Baccarisse, Viella.
For the main travel overview: Gers.
