Laas lies in the Osse Valley. The lords of Laas are documented in the Cartulary of Berdoues from the 12th century. A cartulary is a collection of charters; the mention of the lords in it provides a written reference to their history dating back to the 12th century. Another historical landmark is the ancient Route de César: in Laas, the north–south ridge path forms one of its sections. This brings together the history of the village and that of a route of significance beyond the local area. This makes Laas interesting for travellers who want to connect local heritage with a broader historical context.
Architectural history in the village and in Méliet
The present-day Château de Laas dates from the 17th and 18th centuries and is privately owned. To the north of the church, a seigneurial castle surrounded by moats once stood; the present-day château was built on its site. The Église Notre-Dame-des-Neiges de Laas is right next to the village cemetery. Among the other sights is a 17th-century manor house in Méliet. The timeline spans the lords of Laas, documented from the 12th century, to buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries: the manor house dates from the 17th century, while the present-day château dates from the 17th and 18th centuries. This makes it possible to distinguish the village’s historical landmarks by the period in which they were built.
The Route de César and regional history
For several centuries, the Route de César was an important cross-border route and also a transhumance route. Transhumance means the seasonal movement of livestock between grazing areas; the term explains why the route was associated not only with connections between places but also with livestock farming. In the past, it connected Bordeaux with the central Pyrenees without requiring crossings over bridges or fords. This historical context gives the route a different dimension from the individual buildings in Laas: it represents both a far-reaching connection and a route used in accordance with the grazing areas.
Voyage en Coeur d’Astarac 1 offers another perspective. This driving tour is designed to discover the villages and heritage of the Astarac; Laas is its third stop. It puts a different emphasis on things than the historic Route de César: the focus is on a journey linking villages and heritage in a series of stops. Check the route before setting off, as route conditions may change.
La Chèvre et le Chou in Méliet
Agriculture is another part of local life. La Chèvre et le Chou is a small family farm on the hillsides of the commune of Laas, in Méliet. Around sixty Alpine goats are kept there, and their milk is made into cheese. The farm adds a tangible agricultural aspect to the architectural and route-related landmarks: goat farming and the processing of their milk. When planning your trip, you can therefore approach Laas through different interests: local history, historic routes or agricultural production each offer a distinct way to experience the destination.
Discover more destinations: Réjaumont, Toujouse, Ladevèze-Rivière, Couloumé-Mondebat, Galiax, Monlaur-Bernet, Viella, Tournecoupe
For the overview of destinations: Gers.
