Tournecoupe combines local history with two different ways to discover the village: a walk along the fortifications offers views of the surrounding countryside, while “Sens dessus dessous” leads visitors through the village as a typographic scavenger hunt. The market hall and parish church add notable buildings to these themes. When choosing accommodation in Tournecoupe, you can therefore shape your stay around culture and local history rather than treating the village merely as a place to spend the night.

Castelnau above the Arrats Valley

Tournecoupe is a historic Castelnau, built in the second half of the 13th century on a promontory overlooking the Arrats Valley. The village has been protected since 1943. Its date of origin and protected status mark different historical reference points: the date places the Castelnau in the Middle Ages, while its protected status belongs to a much later period. The promontory, in turn, describes the site’s position in relation to the valley. This gives you two ways to view Tournecoupe: as a medieval settlement and as a site above the valley.

Fortifications, Washhouse and Market Hall

A walk along the fortifications offers views of the surrounding countryside and leads to a rectangular washhouse on a rocky slope. The market hall adds a different spatial feature: it stands outside the fortification walls at the eastern end of the main street. This distinction helps you find your way around the village: the walk follows the fortifications, while the hall lies beyond the walls at the eastern end of the street. You can therefore consider the views, washhouse and market hall as distinct aspects of the village.

A typographic scavenger hunt in the village

“Sens dessus dessous” offers a different format: this typographic trail is designed as a scavenger hunt through the village. It is offered by Thomas Deudé and Stéphane Castet. The two formats have different focuses: the walk takes in the landscape and washhouse, while the trail centers on a typographic scavenger hunt in the village. If you plan your visit around your interests, you can choose between exploring the architecture and landscape on the one hand, and taking part in the scavenger hunt on the other.

Church: Chapel, Tower and Painted Woodwork

The former castle chapel now serves as the parish church and is included in the supplementary inventory of historic monuments. The bell tower stands out for its change in shape: an unusual octagonal structure sits atop a square base. This architectural detail can be distinguished from the motifs inside the church, which include listed painted woodwork featuring symbolic motifs, monsters and foliage. The paintings are attributed to the Italian painter Ricci and were executed in 1838. The church thus brings together several points of interest: its former role as a castle chapel, its current use as a parish church, the shape of its tower and its dated painted decoration. If you are especially interested in architectural forms, look at the transition from the square base to the octagonal upper section; if you are interested in art, the painted woodwork and its range of subjects take center stage. The two dates serve different purposes: the 13th century relates to the origins of the Castelnau, while 1838 is the date the painted woodwork was executed.

Discover more destinations: Jégun, Simorre, Ladevèze-Rivière, Maulichères, Laas, Tudelle, Leboulin, Bouzon-Gellenave

For the regional travel overview: Gers.