Monguilhem’s bastide combines a square with a clearly laid-out street grid. Its founding dates back to 1319; Église Saint-Pierre adds another historical layer to the townscape. Course landaise in the arenas adds a local festival tradition. Visitors to Monguilhem thus encounter a place whose history can be read in its layout and buildings, as well as in a tradition associated with festivals.

Bastide and Founding Year

The bastide of Monguilhem was founded in 1319 through a paréage between Guilhem de Montaigut, the seneschal of the English king, and Annet de Toujouse, the lord of this place. A paréage is an agreement; here, it links two named parties to the act of founding. A bastide is a planned medieval town form; Monguilhem’s regular layout makes this term easy to understand.

The large square measures 70 metres on each side. At this side length, its area is 4,900 square metres. Two main streets cross the bastide and intersect at the southwest corner; side streets complete the grid. The square, main axes and connecting side streets can thus be understood as parts of a unified town plan. The location of the main intersection is a useful point of reference: it is at the edge of the square, not in the centre.

Église Saint-Pierre: Building History and Details

Église Saint-Pierre de Monguilhem is a Gothic building; its construction began in 1471. The church is dated approximately to the third quarter of the 15th century. The year 1471 appears on the north wall; some windows are designed in the Flamboyant style, and there is also a carved portal. The construction date of 1471 falls within the approximate period given. More than 150 years separate the founding of the bastide in 1319 from the church’s construction, revealing two distinct phases in the town’s history.

The exterior porch has a rib vault. Flamboyant refers to a Late Gothic style; a rib vault is structured by intersecting ribs. This allows you to distinguish the style of individual windows from the construction of the exterior porch.

Course landaise and Festival Tradition

Course landaise takes place at the Arènes de Monguilhem and is considered an original and festive spectacle. Arenas are often built specifically for local festivals. For travel planning, these topics offer different points of interest: the square and church represent the town’s layout and architectural history, while Course landaise represents its festival tradition. Check current information before travelling for specific dates and accessibility.

Fishing from the dam at Lac du Charros is prohibited. If you would like to fish there, check the current regulations locally.

Discover more destinations: Lectoure, Castéra-Verduzan, Lagraulet-Du-Gers, Lamothe-Goas, Montréal, Castelnavet, Callian, Perchède.

For the regional travel overview: Gers.