A region to discover from our Seissan campsite
right by Seissan
The lakes of Gascony
A holiday in the Gers, and still further the Pyrenees, is the opportunity to hike in wonderful landscapes, sometimes breathtaking…
Going on the Route to Santiago de Compostella (the Arles route runs close to the campsite), a bike ride on the marked trails of the Gers countryside, taking the Sansan palaeontological route, a large number of walks can be done from the campsite. Moreover, if you have children, why not have an educational stop at the “Le Vallon des Rêves Activity Farm” nearby.
For wonderment, there are the Grands Sites d’Occitanie (major sites). These include the mythical Pont d’Espagne bridge and its waterfalls and the splendid Lac de Gaube lake, from where you are able to admire the Vignemale, the highest massif of the Pyrenees. You could even go up the Pic du Midi summit by cable car. This will give you a large thrill at the summit, revealing an incredible panoramic view, and sometimes a sea of clouds.
We advise an easy hike at the Lac de Payole lake, opposite the Pic du Midi summit, but real hikers prefer to travel a stretch of road on the famous GR10, to go over the Neouvielle massif, and marvel at the Cirque de Gavarnie cirque, all alone in the middle of nowhere.
The Gascony markets
The markets are a superb opportunity to immerse yourself in the daily life of the Gers, and to meet its inhabitants. A must-see if you enjoy laughs and people in good humour.
Amongst the treasures of the Gers, it is absolutely necessary to discover the particular atmosphere of the markets where the best in Gascon local produce abounds, with Foie Gras (fattened duck or goose liver) and farm poultry of the Gers topping the bill. Moreover, for an even more magical moment, choose to visit one of the markets of La Romieu, Fourcès, Larresingle, Lavardens, Sarrant, or even Montreal du Gers, 6 villages classified amongst the loveliest villages in France (with the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France designation).
A very typical restaurant in Simorre, which solely cooks produce from local producers. It is timeless, an immersion in the Gers, a cheerful location, with a liking for the good things in life!
Celebrations and festivals in the Gers
The Gers inhabitant is a cheerful Gascon, who does not miss a chance to celebrate and cultivate their mind. In the Gers, the village celebrations are expected and the festivals merry.
Férias (southern French festivals), Landes races, festivals, a thousand demonstrations, feature on the calendar of the Gers, with large gatherings, numerous exhibitions and a packed cultural season.
The Gers is a large department of festivals, the diversity of which provides something for everyone. The entire south-west of France is concentrated here: you cultivate the sounds, the tones, the laughs, the spirit, the humour, the fine production of works, bringing together hundreds of festival-goers, sharing both exceptional and animated times!
- The major gatherings
- CIRCA circus festival (October)
- Jazz in Marciac (August)
- Welcome in Tzigannie (April)
- Féria in Vic (Pentecost)
- Tempo Latino (July)
- Rock’n’Roll Festival (July)
- Car Races (Easter)
- Festival de la BD focused on cartoons (August)
For a well-being experience as a family, the Balnéa thermal spa in Loudenvielle (in the Pyrenees) is worth the detour. Roman, Japanese, Inca, Amerindian or Maya baths, this thermo-recreational centre offers you various spa experiences, perfect to recharge your batteries.
Major sites of Occitanie
The builders of the Auch cathedral, the aeronautical engineers at the Cité de l’Espace science theme park, the Gallo-Roman decorators of the villa de Seviac remains, the faithful believers at Lourdes, you are sometimes dumbfounded by the work accomplished by us as humans!
Upon approaching the historic capital of Gascony, Auch, you can make out the imposing Cathédrale Sainte Marie cathedral that you reach, when going all over the Pousterles of the city, the straight highly sloping streets, that witnessed D’Artagnan hurtling down them. Moreover, you marvel at the work of the builders of this “cathedral which ought to have been able to be placed in a museum” in the words of Napoleon, during his visit in 1808. It is the same type of feeling that you experience, in discovering the mosaics of the Gallo-Roman villa in Séviac, one of the 3 sites of the ancient capital of Elusa. You will be enthusiastic when before the determination of its Sisters 2.0, who both preserve and develop, with a certain dynamism, the magnificent Abbaye de Boulaur abbey, dating back to the 12th century. It is with admiration that you discover the accomplishments by aerospace engineers, shown and explained at the Cité de l’Espace space theme park in Toulouse.
- Marvels in Occitanie…
- The Cathédrale in Auch and its pousterles
- The Cistercian Abbaye complex in Flaran, and the “Simonov” collection
- The Abbaye de Boulaur abbey and its sisters 2.0
- The mosaics of the Gallo-Roman villa in Séviac
- Toulouse, “The Pink City” with the Cité de l’Espace and the Place du Capitole
- The distinctive atmosphere of Lourdes
Fauna in Occitanie
A trip to Occitanie, is also the opportunity to face rural life, and rediscover the animal kingdom, on a farm, in the heart of nature, in a wildlife park.
Then of course, in August the traditional Landes races in Nogaro or Eauze are indeed worth a detour within the amphitheatre, to admire the leapers challenging the Landes bulls. Should you wish, why not attend a bullfight, a custom which is becoming rarer? The visit to the cattle rearing of Toros (bulls) on the Ferme du Cantaou farm, a ganaderia, in the vicinity of Mirande, is another way to discover the traditions of bullfighting, anchored in the south-west of France.
A visit to the Parc animalier des Pyrénées, a genuine Pyraneees mountain zoo, is an unforgettable experience for children, who can thus better learn about the biodiversity and the numerous species populating the mountain ranges.
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