Montesquiou
Perched on a spur overlooking the River Osse, Montesquiou is a 12th-century castelnau steeped in the history of the lords of the same name, with remains of fortifications and picturesque alleyways.
The Neolithic and Gallo-Roman periods have left many traces of occupation here.
The Barons of Montesquiou, descendants of the Counts of Fezensac, themselves descended from the ancient Dukes of Gascony, formed one of the largest seigneuries in Armagnac. The mother of the famous d'Artagnan was a Montesquiou d'Artagnan.
The gate tower, one of the oldest in the Gers, offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the Pyrenees and sees the route of St Jacques de Compostelle from Arles pass under its arch. In Le Bourdieu, on the plain below, the St Blaise hospital, founded by the local lords, took in Jacquets as early as the 13th century.
The church of Saint-Martin, built on the site of the 12th-century church, has a remarkable flamboyant choir.
Although the seigniorial castle was dismantled after the French Revolution, the Tour de Lamothe remains outside the village , the remains of a 15th-century castle belonging to a younger branch of the de Montesquiou family.
To discover :
- The Pilgrim's Way to Santiago de Compostela (Voie d'Arles)
- The Natura 2000 site: Lac du Lizet.
- The chapel and its Flemish-style altarpiece.
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