Mirandole enjoys a hillside position with glorious views of the Gascony countryside, around 8km south-east of the historic town of Condom. The nearest airports are Toulouse-Blagnac, Tarbes–Lourdes–Pyrénées and Pau- Pyrénées Airport (Bordeaux and Bergerac are also worth considering) or you may prefer to arrive by train – the high-speed train from Paris Montparnasse to Agen, 48km away, takes just under four hours.
With easy access to the country road that leads north to Condom, you can reach small villages and rural restaurants within a 5 to 15-minute drive whilst a range of supermarkets can be found around Condom, 8km by car. Take time to stroll around the medieval lanes of this pretty market town on the banks of the Petite Baïse, visit its bustling twice-weekly market, sample locally produced Armagnac and admire the wonderful Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Condom with its four musketeers statue. The town also has a good reputation for its gastronomy across several excellent restaurants.
Embrace the slow pace of life across the Gers department as you cycle along country roads, admire the undulating scenery on horse-back, walk through rolling hills of vineyards, sunflowers and farmland or canoe/kayak along the Baïse River. The trio of gorgeous Gers villages, Larressingle, Fourcès and Montréal, are within a 15 to 25-minute drive, all three classified as one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’ and home to some superb walking trails.
Other charming market towns include Lectoure (22km), Fleurance (23km) and Eauze (31km) whilst further south is the pretty village of Saint-Clair (35km), known for its seasonal white garlic and home to a garlic festival in early August. In the height of the summer look out for marchés nocturnes (night markets) in pretty Gascon villages and towns.
Medieval Sarrant (50km) is another gem of this region or spend the day in Auch (39km), the historic capital of Gascony. Agen (48km), on the banks of the Garonne, is a highlight of this part of southern France – try Agen prunes soaked in Armagnac – whilst Marciac is a must for jazz lovers with its many concerts and famous summer jazz festival.
The Region
A relatively new addition to France, the Midi-Pyrénées was created to surround the cultural capital of Toulouse in the late 1970s. You might think that its relative youth would mean the Midi-Pyrénées is short on character or identity, but remember, this is France we’re talking about – the whole country is steeped in history and tradition.
Encompassing parts of Gascony, Languedoc, the Gers and several others, you’ll get a varied slice of the whole French experience here, not least if you stay at one of our beautiful chateaux in the Midi-Pyrénées!
