More about the region

The Lot et Garonne has much to offer lovers of culture, with its rich architectural heritage that reflects a fascinating and somewhat eventful history, details of which can be found at almost every turn. You are never far from a bastide town or historical monument and sightseeing is easily planned with the numerous brochures held by the local tourist offices. The landscape, with its contrasting undulating fields and bordering dense pine forests, creates a backdrop to please every artists eye.

Predominately an agricultural region, the Lot et Garonne displays countless fields of sunflowers in the summer, alongside burgeoning vines of grapes bursting with the promise of wine, the best of which are to be found in the northwest corner of the Lot et Garonne. Bordering the world renowned wines of Bordeaux, are the vineyards of Duras. The Côtes de Duras reds are usually made from 100% Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon and the whites from Sauvignon, Mauzac or Semillon. The wines of Buzet, and Cocumont with its Côtes de Marmandais, are very popular. Agenais table wines are also well worth sampling.

The gastronomes among us will find much to appreciate and can look forward to a number of leisurely lunches, sipping a glass or two of the splendid regional wines, whilst researching the local delicacies. As the prime producer of fruit and vegetables, along with the famous prunes of Agen, the Lot et Garonne offers us the orchard of Europe.

With over 200km of navigable waterways, provided by the Lot, the Garonne and the Baïse rivers, not forgetting the Canal Lateral to the Garonne which runs parallel to the Garonne and leads to the Canal du Midi and on to the Mediterranean sea, boating is understandably on many peoples ‘to do’ list here. During the warm season, there are a plethora of outdoor sports such as hunting, fishing, bird watching, horse-riding, cycling, rock climbing and canoeing. There are also a number of Golf courses throughout the region and during the winter months why not visit a Thermal Spa where you can lose yourself in their warming and therapeutic waters.

The climate in the Lot et Garonne is mild, with hot and sometimes humid summers and temperate winters. Every season has its attractions and the landscape once again comes to life in the spring, lush and fresh after the winter rain. The summer’s heat visibly enriches the land as you watch the grapes fatten and the sunflowers bloom. Autumn allows the land to cool in preparation for harvesting, after which will follow numerous fetes in celebration of the land and its produce.