Pavie brings together the history of a medieval bastide, striking buildings and a specific walking option. The bastide was founded in 1281; the parish church of Saint-Pierre was built later. This gives you two distinct perspectives to explore: the development of the town and a circular route between wooded paths and the banks of the Gers.
Bastide, Church and Bridge
The medieval bastide was founded in 1281 by Count Bernard IV d’Astarac and Hugues de Cadeux, Abbot of Berdoues Abbey. The parish church of Saint-Pierre was built in the late 13th or early 14th century, after the bastide was founded. This places its construction in the early history of the bastide and makes the chronology clear: the church was built in the decades following the year of its foundation.
The Pont du XIIIe Siècle is located near the bastide. The bridge dates from the late 13th century and has been classified as a historic monument since 1941. Its three low pointed arches are different sizes, with the middle one being the largest. Its construction date, protected status and arch design each offer a different point of reference when exploring this historic structure.
The former chapel of the Carmelite convent is another part of the town’s cultural heritage: it now houses a media library with a library. The statuette of Notre-Dame-du-Cédon is dated to the late 12th or 13th century and was transferred to the treasury of Auch Cathedral. This takes you from a historic building put to a new use to a dated religious artwork that was moved elsewhere.
Landscape and Walking Trail
The Coteaux du Sousson de Samaran Ă Pavie ZNIEFF is classified as a type 2 area and extends from the north of Pavie to Samaran in the south. It offers a broader geographical perspective than a single circular route, extending beyond Pavie.
For a specific walk starting in Pavie, the Chemin de Terre Blanche is a good option: this easy circular route is 4 km long and passes between wooded paths and the banks of the Gers. The walk is estimated to take about 1 hour 25 minutes. This gives you two different ways to experience the landscape: a manageable circular route with an approximate duration and a larger ZNIEFF area. As trail conditions can change, check them before setting out.
Chapel, Festival and Guided Tours
The Notre-Dame-du-CĂ©don chapel, rebuilt in the 19th century, serves as a pilgrimage centre once a year. If you would like to plan your trip around this occasion, check the dates in advance.
Trad’Envie is a festival of traditional music and singing, held every year in early May in Pavie. The programme includes concerts, dance events, Trad’Apéros, food and drink, workshops and a luthier’s salon in its 12th edition. Programme elements may vary from one edition to the next, so check the dates and programme if you would like to plan your visit around the festival.
Guided tours are offered in Pavie throughout the year by guides-conférenciers of Pays d’art et d’histoire Grand Auch Cœur de Gascogne. Groups need to book in advance; individual visitors should check the schedule. Check availability and the calendar with the tourist office before making firm plans for a tour.
The farmers’ market is also held on a specific day of the week: in 2026, it is scheduled for Wednesday mornings in Pavie. If you would like to visit the market during your stay, check in advance whether it is taking place on your travel date.
Discover more destinations: Réans, Lias-D'armagnac, Cazaux-Savès, Toujouse, Sempesserre, Montadet, Béraut, Mauroux.
For the broader travel overview: Gers.
