Tourist
information
in black and yellow , the colours of Plaisance
Presentation and brief history
The
Tourist Information Office Accommodation and Catering
Leisure and sports
Services and shopping
Local produce Patrimony What
to see in the Gers The Pyrenees and the Ocean
Hear me , gentle ladies and gentle men
If you are English, I am sorry you won't be the first to come and see Plaisance and the
Gers. The region is now "invaded" by English people.They buy houses and old
farms. One of my mother's best friend is now an Englishwoman (both are Papists !)
Aren't you happy on your beautiful green island ? yes, I know, awful weather.
Anyway, even if you don't like frog legs, you are welcome at Plaisance du Gers.
But let me tell you more about Plaisance.
PLAISANCE
In Gascony, the birthplace of the too famous d'Artagnan, in the western
part of the "département"du Gers called the Rivière Basse
("The Low River ) lies Plaisance -du Gers , one hour from the Pyrenees, one hour and
a half from the Atlantic ocean.Population : about 1600 inhabitants.
Founded in 1322, by Count Jean Ist
of Armagnac and the abbot of the Case-Dieu, the "Bastide" of Plaisance has two
squares with arcades, which is quite unusual, one dating from the Middle Ages, the other
from the nineteenth century, when the village reached its economic peak , thanks to the
culture of cereals and flour mills.The church on "the place du XI novembre "
that is to say the Church square is worh visiting. It was built in neo-gothic
style,according to the plans of Durand, the architect who built Lourdes
basilica.Inside, majestic new Organs are to be seen and heard. They were built some years
ago by the local Organ manufacture. So all year long and particularly in summer lots of
organ concerts are organised.
o
The Green Resort of Plaisance meets holidaymakers'
requirements
A Holiday village with 15 bungalows , a campsite, mobil homes,
guest houses and rooms, hotels.
For rest or sports, there is a leisure centre, a lake where you can swim, a swimming-pool, tennis courts, football and
rugby grounds, a picnic area... Fishing, canoeing , horse-riding, cycling, walking on
footpaths,all this is possible. Ask for information at the Syndicat d'Initiative (The
Tourist Information Office) In summer, you can participate in the visit of the churches of
the small villages around Plaisance which are specially floodlit for you.
Dear holiday-maker or tourist,
Let me tell you or
resume some information about Plaisance but I recommend you to see the official website of
the Tourist Information Office (The syndicat d'initiative) of Plaisance du Gers. You will
find addresses, telephone numbers, even recipes. The Gers is famous for its food See
below.
So if you are lucky enough to visit us,
don't forget that there is in Plaisance:
For your information:
-a Tourist information Office
Office de Tourisme Bastides et Vallons du Gers
10 rue Adour
32160 Plaisance
Tél. : 05 62 69 44 69 - Fax : 05 62 69 14 94
Courriel : ot.plaisance@wanadoo.fr
www.bastidesetvallonsdugers.com
http://www.plaizan32.fr.fm
See the webpage Contact
For food and accommodation
-two hotels/restaurants,the Ripa Alta et the Pergola
-two restaurants
-a holiday village, near the
Leisure centre Tel : 05 62 60 64 34
-a Campsite/Caravaning
"L'Arros" 3 stars ,where you can rent mobil-homes et caravans tel : 05 62 69
30 28
the entrance of the campsite
For leisure:
-a swimming-poolo
-a big lake
A beach which is watched over.
You can rent rubber boats, pedal boats.
You can play volley-ball or badminton
a children's area with games
a health course
A picnic area
-the Arros campsite where you
can rent canoes, bikes and play mini-golf
-the Stadium with tennis courts and
a wall called "fronton" for the Basque game with a small ball hit against
the wall. Free
- Circuits for cycling or
hiking
Ask the Syndicat d'Initiative They are on their website
- a Horse-riding centre
SERVICES:
Public Services :Town
hall, Post-Office, Police station, Fire brigade
Health : 4 doctors
2 chemists
3 dentists
2 physiotherapists
3 nurses
2 ambulance Taxis
1 vet for your pet(s)
2 Banks
1 local market every Thursday morning,
on the Church square (worth seeing!)
Shopping:
2 Bakers/Pastry-cooks, 2
Butchers, 2 Tobbacconists,1 newsagent/bookshop , 2 cafés, garages, 1 petrol station
1 Supermarket with petrol pumps, 2 DIY shops , hairdressers, a
photographer, computer shop, florists, TVand video shops, 2 other grocers,etc...
Food and Accommodation in the canton
All this is
possible.Ask the Syndicat d'Initiative
LOCAL
PRODUCE
o
The wine: The Plaimont wine at the
"Cave coop" (Wine cellars) (Côtes de Saint Mont,Colombelle) See
the website http://www.plaimont.com
The Madiran that you will find at the " Cave" or in the region
of Madiran which is at about 8 miles
The Pacherenc , white wine from Viella .
The Floc (an aperitive) and the Armagnac, the famous brandy.
The Foie Gras : there are local producers
+ cheese producers or pastry producers. You must taste the Croustade à l'Armagnac !
PATRIMONY
Around Plaisance, there are old romanesque churches - see them in a website .(Address in
the page Contact). You have to go to Goux, Galiax, Croute, Préchac sur Adour, Tasque,
Mazères, Cannet ,Croûte, Préchac sur Adour
Cannet church
Also worth seeing the "chateaux" of Couloumé, Lasserrade or Cahuzac.
The
"bastide"of Beaumarchés with its gothic church of the fourteenth
century is worth visiting .
Not to be missed : the Tower of Termes d'Armagnac (below) , remains of a
13th century castle where Thibaut, a fellow-companion of Joan of Arc, was born.It
dominates the plain and shelters the Museum of Gascon panache.
(Photo Alain Alquier.Photographer and painter at Riscle)
I do invite you to see some paintings by
A.Alquier
In a larger area, you can visit the Gers with its hilly landscapes, the
French Tuscany.. Auch and its cathedral,Vic-Fezensac, Mirande and
its folk festival, Marciac and its famous jazz festival in August, Riscle in
the Adour plain, Nogaro and its car races, Eauze, the capital of Armagnac,
Condom, the capital of "condom", Larresingle, called the Carcassonne
du Gers etc,etc
The Pyrenees also are quite near. Lourdes is about 35 miles
away, Tarbes 30 miles away
The Ocean with
the Landes beaches of Capbreton or Hossegor is only 80 miles away.