Gers, Gascony: French Property Location Guide

Discover gastronomy, markets, festivals and a slower pace of life in Gascony’s heartland. Victoria Garnham explains why and how the Gers embodies authentic French living…

Tucked away in the heart of southwest France, the Gers department remains one of the country’s lesser-known gems. Far from the bustle of city life and crowded coasts, this idyllic corner of Gascony offers a rhythm of life that seems untouched by time. It’s little wonder more and more people are discovering the Gers as a place to call home.

To live in the Gers is to embrace the art of slowing down. It means markets instead of supermarkets, seasons instead of schedules and neighbours who know your name. For many, this is the authentic French lifestyle they’ve been dreaming of -here, it’s simply everyday life.

Markets in the Gers are much more than places to shop; they are weekly rituals. In villages like Montréal-du-Gers or Lectoure, they spill into squares lined with medieval arcades, filling the air with scents of fresh bread, goat’s cheese, honey and cured meats.

From November to March, the ‘marchés au gras’ (fattened duck and goose markets) bring local producers and buyers together in places like Samatan and Eauze. Here, foie gras, confit and magret de canard change hands in a lively, convivial atmosphere where recipes and stories are shared as freely as the food itself.

Summer evenings come alive with night markets. Tables appear in the streets of villages offering street food, local wine and live music. Visitors and locals alike mingle until late into the warm Gascon night.

Food is a serious affair in the Gers, and rightly so: this is the birthplace of foie gras, home to farmhouse duck and goose dishes and a treasure trove of fresh produce. Melons from Lectoure, garlic from Lomagne, Armagnac prunes, wild mushrooms and free-range poultry fill the seasonal menus of local kitchens.
Wine lovers will find much to enjoy in the local Côtes de Gascogne wines, with vineyards producing crisp whites and characterful reds. Numerous estates offer visits and tastings that showcase the unique terroir of the region.

And then, of course, there is Armagnac, France’s oldest brandy, distilled here for over 700 years by small family producers. Visiting a traditional Armagnac producer, with its centuries-old cellars, is a rite of passage – the continuous distillation process and French oak-barrel ageing mirroring the region’s unhurried lifestyle. A lovely time to visit is during distillation during November when producers open their doors to visitors for traditional meals by the alambic (still) as the eau-de-vie flows. The local Floc de Gascogne is a sweet and fruity aperitif that captures Gascony’s sunshine in a glass.

Driving through the Gers is like wandering through a living postcard. Bastide towns like Fourcès, with its unique circular square and pretty arches, which holds an annual flower festival in April, or Montréal-du-Gers, whose medieval arcades speak of centuries of history. Many are officially listed as Plus Beaux Villages de France (the most beautiful villages of France). The capital, Auch, has a magnificent cathedral – a Unesco World Heritage Site -and a monumental staircase lined with sculptures, such as the famous statue of swashbuckling hero d’Artagnan. The city blends Gothic and Renaissance architecture with vibrant markets, cafés and a growing arts scene. Other gems include La Romieu, with its collegiate church, also on the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage route, and Larressingle – a medieval fortress nicknamed ‘the little Carcassonne’.

In the Gers, every season brings its own celebration. The most famous is Jazz in Marciac. musical capital every summer. Under the big top or on the main square, world-class musicians perform as locals and visitors fill cafés and wine bars late into the night.

April brings Welcome in Tziganie, a festival of Balkan and gypsy music in Seissan – a riot of colour, rhythm and dance. Autumn sees the Fête de l’Armagnac, a festival to celebrate this noble digestif in Labastide-d’Armagnac, while countless villages host fêtes gourmandes, craft fairs, and cultural events celebrating everything from sunflowers to storytelling. Life here is about the shared joy of coming together. These festivals are never just for tourists; they are woven into the life of the community, offering newcomers a warm invitation to join in.

The Gers embraced slow tourism long before the term became fashionable. With no motorways or high-speed rail lines, travel here follows a gentler rhythm. Although off the beaten track, the area is accessible with the international airport of Toulouse only about an hour’s drive away and Bordeaux’s a little further. Paris is a four-hour train ride away and the Pyrénées are just a couple of hours away, as is the west coast with its sand dunes and beautiful beaches.

Cyclists and walkers can explore the Armagnac voies vertes, old railway lines that have been made accessible; hikers wander along the Santiago de Compostela trails and the recently opened Route d’Artagnan; and families ride the Vélorail de l’Armagnac, a pedal-powered adventure along disused railway tracks through sunflower fields and vineyards. The River Baïse, which runs through Condom and other villages, incorporates locks and so it can be navigated by boat and canoe.
Nature lovers will find lakes for swimming, rolling hills for picnics and dark skies for stargazing – the Gers has some of the clearest night skies in the whole of France. Agritourism is thriving too, with farm stays and vineyard guesthouses offering visitors the chance to connect with local producers and traditions.

For househunters, the Gers offers something increasingly rare in France: affordable rural property with character and space. Prices remain far below those of Provence or the Dordogne, with stone farmhouses, village houses and even small châteaux offering exceptional value. Many come with generous plots, outbuildings and panoramic views of the Pyrénées – perfect for gîtes, B&B projects or simply a slower-paced family life. The climate is another draw: long, warm summers, crisp autumns and mild winters create ideal conditions for gardening, outdoor living and, of course, those long lunches under the plane trees.

Life in the Gers is not about doing less, but about living more fully. More time for neighbours, for markets, for music, for food that has a story, and wine made by people you can meet in person. For those seeking a property in France, the Gers offers more than bricks and mortar. It offers a way of life – one rooted in tradition yet open to newcomers, where every season brings its own pleasures, and where slowing down feels entirely natural. In a world that moves ever faster, the Gers reminds us that sometimes the greatest luxury is time itself.

Victoria Garnham runs Gelas Immobilier in Gers

Tel: 0033 (0)5 62 06 52 91

gelas-immobilier.com

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