Add 00 33 to the telephone numbers below to make the international call.................
Important contact for the Gers
Office du Tourisme for the GERS. They will give you a lot of information about the Gers, send you maps, give you calendars of events etc.
tel : 05 62 05 95 95
Fax : 05 62 05 02 16
e.mail: info@tourisme-gers.com
SAUVETERRE
Château de Barbet Tel: 5 62 62 61 45 (www.tourisme-barbet.com)The next door Château is soon to offer accommodation in the form of holiday homes – more appropriate for longer stays but convenient with a good pool and a new nine hole golf course!
LOMBEZ
Dick's Hotel and Restaurant Tel: 5 62 62 55 72 Fax: 5 62 62 56 63 Basic rooms - good value, near to Sauveterre, with a little swimming pool and pétanques pitch! Good restaurant and Dick speaks perfect English!
Le Parc de Pétrarque Tel: 5 62 62 32 70 www.leparcdepetrarque.new.fr Recently renovated guest house with lots of character. Five ensuite bedrooms - and a friendly welcome. Very close to Sauveterre.
SAMATAN (Home to the foie gras market on Mondays)
Au Canard Gourmand Tel 05 62 62 49 81 - Fax 05 62 62 49 81 (www.aucanardgourmand.fr) Modern and comfortable hotel with five large rooms and a family suite. Terrace with a jacuzzi - and an excellent restaurant. Only five minutes from Sauveterre.
GIMONT (A little bastide market town 20 minutes from Sauveterre, 40 minutes Blagnac Airport)
Chateau de Larroque Tel 05 62 67 77 44 - Fax 5 62 67 88 90 (www.chateaularroque.fr) Beautiful setting with pool and tennis court. Not what it used to be, but the restaurant is decent.
Le Coin de Feu Tel 05 62 67 96 70 - Fax 5 62 67 88 28 - Basic Rooms and has had some bad reports from recent parents. Quite good restaurant.
ENDOUFIELLE Between L’Isle-Jourdain and Samatan (15 minutes Sauveterre, 40 minutes Blagnac)
La Bastide Manon Tel 05 62 07 97 19 This is a small family run auberge that is now a chambre d'hôtes. They have a nice swimming pool and good views - and they will cook too if needed.
PESSAN (25 mins from Sauveterre - close to Auch)
Château de Lartigolle Tel 05 62 63 26 27 - www.lartigolle.com This 15th Century Château is the best accomodation in the area, complete with 22 acres of grounds to walk around, a beautiful swimming pool, new tennis court, five-a-side football pitch, vineyard, full size snooker table and much more! The food is fantastic too. They will offer a better rate to Sauveterre parents. Have a look at the website for more details.
AUCH (Capital of the Gers - 40 minutes Sauveterre, 60 minutes Blagnac)
Hotel de France Tel 05 62 61 71 84 - Fax 05 62 61 71 81 Capital of the Gers Departement and the Gascogne Region. A top class restaurant with a famous head chef – Roland Garreau
LEBOULIN (A small village about just outside Auch)
Château Leboulin, Tel 05 62 65 66 60 (www.chateauleboulin.com) - wonderful old farm-workers' house that has been renovated into a traditional Gascon home. Run by an English speaking couple Peter and Rebecca Rauter. Has a large swimming pool, a full-size trampoline and luxurious rooms. The website is full of further information.
ANAN (A little village jusr after L’Isle en Dodon - 15 mins from Sauveterre)
Moulin de Samaran Tel 05 61 88 15 81 A charming watermill run by an English couple -Graham and Susan Surtees. This comprises 3 spacious appartments, a sun terrace, large pool with poolhouse and 24 acres of gardens, parklands and fields. Either self-catering or bed and breakfast (with evening meal if required). E-mail moulinsamaran@yahoo.co.uk
MONTBERNARD (A little village after L’Isle en Dodon on the way to the Pyrenees)
Chez Piercy Tel 05 61 88 11 34 The former stables of a 19th century farmhouse have been converted into a very comfortable and well equipped 4 bedroomed gite. If you prefer B+B is available in the main house. The property has a very nice swimming pool and the rates are very reasonable. Contact a.piercy@tiscali.fr
BOULOGNE SUR GESSE ( A town about 25 minutes from the Château )
Domaine de Bordeneuve Tel 05 61 88 26 29 A Chambres d’hôtes that does B+B at a reasonable price, and will also accept animals on request. Contact Colette Lemer on lemer.colette@wanadoo.fr
CASTELNAU-MAGNOAC (A little town in the direction of the Pyrenees, near Lannemazan, 45 minutes from Sauveterre, 1hr.40 mins from Blagnac Airport and within one hour of the mountains.)
Hotel Dupont Tel 05 62 39 80 02 A nice but simple and basic old-fashioned family run hotel. It has a fantastic restaurantGood restaurant, very good value. No swimming pool
SIMORRE (A small village about a quarter of an hour away from Sauveterre)
La Ferme de Marie Barrailh Tel 05 62 65 36 48 Chambres d’hôtes with optional restaurant in the evening at a reasonable price and close proximity to Sauveterre. Contact Mme Barrailh on maryse.barrailh@club-internet.fr
Le Relais d’Arpeges Tel 05 62 65 32 05 A very simple if not basic village hotel and restaurant facing Simorre Church One room that sleeps four and two double rooms – prices are 95 Euros and 55 Euros per room including breakfast. Only for the adventurous!
MASSEUBE
La Garenne Tel/Fax 05 62 66 03 61 - Self-catering or bed and breakfast either in the main house or in one of the two gîtes. With a swimming pool.
RIEUMES
Auberge Les Palmiers Tel 05 61 91 81 01 - Fax 05 61 91 56 36 (www.auberge-lespalmiers.com) A charming little hotel with seven rooms. A double rooms costs about 56 Euros
L’ISLE JOURDAIN
Hostellerie du Lac Tel 05 62 07 03 91 - Fax 05 62 07 04 37 A hotel with about 20 rooms with a swimming pool and a decent restaurant. Prices are 38 Euros with a room with a shower, and 42 with a bath.
MIREPOIX (Ariège)
Le Domaine de Badia Tel 05 61 69 23 65 – Private 18th Century « Maison de maître » situated in 60 hectares of unspoilt prairies and woodland available to rent for weekends out from Sauveterre. 8 bedrooms and a floodlit outdoor table tennis table! Staff available on request. An information booklet can be e-mailed from the Sauveterre office.
FLOURE
Chateau de Floure Tel 04 68 79 11 29 - Fax 04 68 79 04 61 (www.chateau-de-floure.com) 12 km from Carcassone ,this Relais du Silence which is a a peaceful fomer Roman Abbey, has rooms that start at 100 Euros. The apartment is 170 Euros. Breakfast is an additional 16 Euros.
ARREAU a small attractive town at the cross roads of two valleys in the Pyrenees – perfect for skiing
Hôtel d'Angleterre Tel 05 62 98 63 30 - Fax 05 62 98 69 66 - (www.hotel-angleterre-arreau.com) two star hotel that has recently been renovated with about 20 decent rooms. Old rooms are from 56 Euros and the new ”mini suites” are 72 Euros...... Despite the name the family speak little English but are very welcoming!
CARCASSONNE
Domaine d’Auriac Tel 04 68 25 72 22 - Fax 04 68 47 35 45 – Relais Châteaux (www.relaischateaux.com/site/us/rc_auriac.html) 26 luxurious rooms which start at 150 Euros and go up to apartments costing 420 Euros.
SAINT-FELIX-LAURAGAIS
Auberge du Poids Public Tel 5 61 83 00 20 - Fax 5 61 83 86 21- (www.auberge-du-poidspublic.com) Hotel south east of Toulouse and just over an hour from the Chateau. Recommended for those wanting to explore Carcassonne and the Mediterranean direction. A Michelin star - outstanding food.
CAMON (near MIREPOIX)
L'Abbaye - Château de Camon Tel/Fax 05 61 60 31 23 (www.chateaudecamon.com) Located in the heart of the Cathar country near Mirepoix - not far from Carcassonne. A very impressive former monastery owned by an English couple Katie and Peter Lawton. Large comfortable bedrooms, a swimming pool and good food all available here.
VILLENEUVE DE RIVIERE 31800 Saint Gaudens
Hostellerie des Cedres - Tel 05 61 89 36 00 - Fax 05 61 88 31 04 - (www.hotel-descedres.com)
'Ancien Manoir de la Marquise de Montespan', Hotel south east of Sauveterre and under an hour from the Chateau, not far from the A64 motorway exit 16. Recommended for those wanting to explore Le Comminges and the Luchon Valley towards Spain. It has 20 rooms and 2 suites. Prices are 80 Euros and 138 Euros respectively.
PAVIE
Domaine de Peyloubere, Tel 05 62 05 74 97 - Fax 05 62 05 75 39 – (www.peyloubere.com) - Self catering cottages and chambres d'hôtes (b&b) in the 17th century Manoir just south of Auch and about 40 minutes from the Château. Run by a very nice English couple, Theresa and Ian Martin. Swimming pool. Available for weekends or longer. Special rates are available for Sauveterre parents – not mentioned on their website!
PEYRUSSE GRANDE
Maison Roxy, 32320 Tel 05 62 70 96 88 (U.K. number: 01886-880309) - 30 minutes W. of Auch. Large self-catering house suitable for two families, swimming pool, run by Mr. & Ms. Harrison (English!)
MARCIAC
Setzeres, Scieurac et Floures, 32230 Tel/fax: 05 62082145 - (www.setzeres.com and www.setzeres.co.uk) A Wolsey Lodge(up market B+B) with a pool and a beautiful garden 25 kms south east of Auch 35 kms from Sauveterre. It is run by an English Lady (Christine Furney), who normally insists on children being over 12! She has been promised that Sauveterre children are always impeccably behaved and will take them regardless of age!!
Fitan Tel/fax: 05 62 70 81 88 - (www.chezdeedo.com) A bed and breakfast with access for disabled people. With a swimming pool and dinner is available on request. Run by an English lady Dido Streatfield-Moore.
BAZIAN (A small village about 10 minutes away from Vic Fezensac)
A Private House in a grand location set in 50 acres of private land with great views. It has a pool house and a 12m pool with an alfresco eating area. Could easily sleep two families. For more information contact Catherine Carrelet on cathcarrelet@aol.com
LAVAUR
Bosc Lebat Massac-Seran Tel 05 63 58 04 89 Fax 05 63 58 12 99 - (www.bosclebat.com) An Exclusive Bed and Breakfast 35 minutes NE of Toulouse. This splendid manoir is run by the English owner Mrs Simpson, who prefers to be paid in pounds not euros! She charges £45 per person per night, and £20 each for supper, wine included – although she would rather send you out to one of the good restaurants nearby!
PLAISANCE DU GERS
Chateau d’Arlens, Couloume-Mondebat Tel 05 62 69 40 36 Fax 05 62 69 40 50 - Private house guests welcomed into family atmosphere of the Earl & Countess of Mayo. Swimming pool, tennis court, snooker table, beautiful views & red deer farm.
LARTIGUE
Moulin de Mazère Tel 05 62 65 98 68 - About 20 minutes from Sauveterre. A lovely traditional, picturesque old mill run by a delightful lady and her daughter. 4 double rooms. Swimming pool. Excellent food.
GASTRONOMY GUIDE
Restaurants
Samatan Au Canard Gourmand - excellent restaurant just on northern outskirts of Samatan. Reservations recommended. Tel: 05-62-62-49-81
Lombez Dick's restaurant - excellent food with a children's menu too.
Auch La Table d'Hôtes. - V.small - near the Cathedral! Excellent food. Better perhaps for supper than lunch. Home to the famous “Hambur-Gers”!
Auch Le Café Gascon – just next door to the Table d’Hôtes. Small but gastronomic! Booking essential.
Escanecrabe - 10 kms SW of L'Isle en Dodon - on D17. Auberge Champêtre. Music/Dancing on Saturday nights. Very french. Much of the food cooked over wood fire. Excellent pan-fried Foie Gras with pears!
Moncorneil Grazan- 15 minutes away from the Château. Auberge d’Astarac. Typical Gersois home cooking in private house atmosphere. Delicious food! It will not open if it does not have a booking – so don’t just turn up!
On Friday lunch time you should aim to be seated in the restaurant at about 13:15!
Tel Rating Distance
Château de Barbet, Sauveterre 05 62 62 61 45 * Next door château
Dick's Restaurant, Lombez 05 62 62 55 72 *** 2 km
Le Canard Gourmand, Samatan 05 62 62 49 81 *** 4 km
Les Rivages de Samatan 05 62 62 35 64 ** 4 km
Le Vénitien, Samatan 05 62 62 40 72 * 4 km
L'Escale (Pizzeria), l'Isle-en-Dodon 05 61 88 66 36 * 6 km
Le Relais d'Apèges, Simorre 05 62 65 32 05 * quarter of an hour
Hostellerie du Lac, l'Isle-Jourdain 05 62 07 03 91 * 20 minutes
Le Coin du Feu, Gimont 05 62 67 96 70 ** 20 minutes
Château Larroque, Gimont 05 62 67 77 44 *** 20 minutes
During the weekend there are markets at :
Auch (Saturday)
L’Isle-en-Dodon (Saturday)
L’Isle-Jourdain (Saturday) perhaps the best saturday market
Gimont (Sunday )
Samatan (Monday) A huge market perfect for buying foie gras on your way home!