Auch Things to Do

The narrow streets of the old town are full of interesting and delightful shops, restaurants and bars.

The main produce on display are Armagnac, fois gras, wine and cheese, but there are boutiques and card shops as well.

Assuming you make it past the statue of D'Artagnan, half way up the 232 steps of the L'escalier Monumental, you will eventually reach the Tour d’Armagnac.

This 14th century tower was once a prison. Unfortunately you can't go inside it, but it dominates the skyline from miles away.

From the banks of the river Gers, a broad flight of 232 steps (L'escalier Monumental) takes you up to the cathedral and the old town. Part way up, the statue of Gascony's favourite fictional son allows you to stop for a breather.

There was apparantly a real character called Charles de Batz who was the basis for Alexander Dumas' Fourth Musketeer.

Created on December 16, 1793, the museum of Auch counts among the oldest museums of France.

Today installed in the old Convent of the Jacobins, the museum has a great diversity of collections gathered in five great sections:
Antiquities, Art of the Middle Ages, America, Art and artists of South-west; and Art and the popular traditions of Gascogny.

Schedules (except Monday and public holidays):
May 1 to September 30: 10h (12h - 14h closed for lunch) until 18h
October 1 to April 30: 10h (12h - 14h closed for lunch) until 17h

The tourist office, in the same square as the cathedral, is 15th century and probably one of the most photographed buildings in the Gers.

HOURS OPEN: (in French...to practice)

Horaires d'ouverture :
- Du 2 mai au 14 juillet et du 21 août au 30 septembre du lundi au samedi, de 9h15 (lundi 10h) à 12h et de 14h à 18h30.
Dimanche et jours fériés de 10h à 12h15.
- Du 15 juillet au 20 août du lundi au samedi de 9h30 (lundi 10h) à 18h30.
Dimanche de 10h à 12h15 et de 15h à 18h15 août de 10h à 12h15.
- Du 1er octobre au 30 avril du lundi au samedi sauf jours fériés de 9h15 (lundi 10h) à 12h et de14h à 18h.

In the old part of the town in the upper quarter, the narrow streets, or 'Les Pousterles', are centered on the 'place Salinis', from which you'll have a great view of the Pyrenees.

These five tiny winding paths - steep and narrow - were built in the Middle Ages to link the "high" and "low" towns.

The 'Escalier Monumental' or great staircase, with its 370 steps, leads down to the 'Le Gers' river and the lower quarter of town.

Stop on this wonderful stone stairway to admire the statue of d'Artagnan and to test your knowledge of Latin on the raised bronze letters, set into a terrace, which tell the story of Noah and his ark.

The Cathedral of Saint Mary was begun in 1489 and completed two centuries later. It contains a 105 meter long nave, 25 meter high ogival vaults, two 44 meter high towers and a magnificent Renaissance facade.

While I was there admiring this magnificent Cathedral, inside and out, I noticed a lot of scaffolding around its perimeter. I was told by my host that, because of the type of stone that was used at the time of construction, the Cathedral is always crumbling and therefore always and constantly being repaired.

The Cathedral is open daily from 8:30 am to noon and 2 pm to 6 pm during the busy season. Otherwise it is open 9:30 am to noon and 2pm to 5 pm in the winter.

There is a small admission fee of about 1.20 Euros to get in. Worth every bit you pay and a real bargain!