Auch
L'escalier monumental d'Auch
Boiseries cathédrale Ste Marie
Carte Auch, F. Duvernoy/ CRT Occitanie
Park on Boulevard Sadi Carnot by the Gers and go up the great staircase's 370 steps built in 1863. The leafy staircase adorned by the statue of the legendary D'Artagnan is a majestic link between the top and bottom of the town.
When you reach the top you can gaze out at the landmarks made up of the Tour d’Armagnac, Prefecture (former archbishop's palace) and Sainte-Marie Cathedral. Later on, make your way back down along "pousterlles", Auch old town's signature steep lanes.
L'escalier monumental d'Auch
Did you know ?
25 mins from Auch you can visit one of the "Most Beautiful Villages in France", Lavardens and its château, fief to the Armagnac counts, as well as Auterrive, Lahitte and other small villages in Greater Auch.
The size and flamboyant Gothic style of the Auch cathedral (15th-17th century) will amaze you. It is listed as UNESCO world heritage as part of the Santiago de Compostela routes. Its choir with 116 stalls sculpted with 1500 characters is simply breath-taking. As are the colours and lights captured in the 18 stained glass windows by Arnaud de Moles, 16th century wonders.
Next door, the Tour d'Armagnac no longer houses prisoners but instead the cathedral's treasure museum: don't miss it!
Vitraux de la cathédrale Sainte Marie
Our favourite
With items from the Teotihuacan, Zapotec, Mayan and Aztec civilisations, the Jacobins Museum in Auch is home to the 2nd largest collection of Pre-Columbian art in France after the Quai Branly Museum in Paris. NB: The museum is currently under renovation.
Continue your Auch experience on the buzzing Place de la Libération and the neighbouring medieval lanes. Cute boutiques, restaurants and café terraces line up and fill the air with aromas that will make you want to linger a little longer.
Try foies gras, confits, melons, croustade pies, signature Armagnac, Floc de Gascogne and of course Gers wine: Côtes de Gascogne, Saint-Mont, Madiran and Pacherenc.
An absolute must is the Thursday morning market in the lower part of town.
Auch, Lionel Lizet
Top tip
"Explore Auch" : c'est le nom de la nouvelle application mobile pour découvrir Auch de façon ludique, sous forme de mini-jeux. Votre guide : le jeune et intrépide Baptistou qui a besoin de votre aide pour retrouver son oie (du Gers bien entendu).
Festival CIRCA
Typical of Auch: an action-packed schedule all year. Circus arts with CIRCA, the international contemporary circus festival in October. Cinematic art with the Ciné 32 Indépendance(s) et Création Festival in October. Vocal arts with a much-respected festival, Eclats de Voix, held in June. The Soirs d’Eté in July and August host a show or concert in a heritage site every week.
The proud outline of Auch looms an hour's drive west of Toulouse. This town with a population of 22,000 and the capital of Gers epitomises the Gascony lifestyle with flair.
Vidéo © Office de Tourisme du Grand Auch Coeur de Gascogne.
Regional Committee for Tourism and Leisure Occitanie
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