Castelnau-sur-l'Auvignon – Montréal-du-Gers

(S) From the picnic area, head towards the village centre to arrive between Notre-Dame Church and the ruins of a tower. Turn left near the church and continue along a dirt track that passes in front of the cemetery.

(1) Turn right after the cemetery, then right again at the next crossroads to head down towards the River Auvignon.

(2) Cross the river and continue along the GR®65 heading south-west to the Church of Sainte-Germaine de Baradieu in the hamlet of Pavail.

(3) Continue right onto the Chemin de Sainte-Germaine, and carry on to the hamlet of Les Trois Bornes.

(4) Head south along the Chemin de Baradieu and continue to the junction with the Chemin de Moras.

(5) Turn right to reach Lac de Bousquètara. At the lake, turn left onto a grassy path and follow it on your right (a sign informs you that you are entering Armagnac Ténarèze). Continue for about a kilometre to reach the place known as Fromagère. (Here, another sign provides information about wild tulips).

(6) Continue westwards, cross the Ruisseau de Lassos, then carry on through fields and vineyards until you reach the junction with the D204.

(7) Cross carefully and continue straight ahead, passing through the hamlets of La Sablière and La Haille in turn before arriving at a place called Le Chalet.

(8) Turn left, ignoring the^GR® de pays which goes to the right, and continue until you reach the D7 on the outskirts of the town of Condom.

(9) Turn right towards the town centre along Avenue du Maréchal Joffre (refreshments available in town). At the traffic lights, at the junction with Avenue des Anciens Combattants, head left then right into the small pedestrianised Rue Gambetta until you reach Saint-Pierre Cathedral.

(10) After posing with the Four Musketeers on Place Saint-Pierre and visiting the cathedral, walk along the right-hand side of the cathedral to reach Rue Charron, which continues into Rue des Armuriers. At the end of this street, at the Y-junction, turn left into Rue Roques, going against the one-way traffic. At the end of the street, walk past the pharmacy and head towards Bordeaux, crossing the bridge over the River Baïse.

(11) Turn left just after the bridge to follow the river on your left, along Chemin de la Digue. Cross Avenue des Mousquetaires carefully to reach Avenue de l’Armagnac.

(12) Turn immediately left onto the small Chemin des Capots de Teste. At the stop sign, continue along the road opposite, which veers slightly to the right, and carry on until you reach the roundabout.

(13) Follow the signs to the right towards the cycle path, then turn left at the entrance to the one-way road onto Chemin de Compostelle. Pass through the hamlets of Ciprionis, l’Inquiètude, le Ruisseau de Mouret and Rieutort in turn to reach the junction with Chemin de Couchet.

(14) Keep heading south-west, ignoring the next junction, and continue along the dirt track. Cross the D278 and follow the signs for Pont d’Artigues.

(15) Cross the bridge, then turn right at the junction and walk for about 600 m along a small road running alongside the Osse until you reach the power line crossing the road.

(16) Then turn left onto a grassy path that gradually climbs. A sign informs you that you are in Ténarèze. The red and white markings lead you across a small road and on to the right, then straight ahead, still climbing gently, along a grassy path through fields of grain. About a kilometre further on, you’ll come to the vineyards again, and the tarmac at the junction.

(17) Turn right, cross the Ruisseau de Bizet and then turn left at the next junction. Continue to the Church of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine in Routgès. (Drinking water point).

(18) Return to the path and continue westwards to the junction with the D254. Turn left and then straight on along the small tarmac road, to the right of the vineyard plot. Pass through the hamlets of La Gavarre and Lassere de Haut in turn to reach the hamlet of Le Glésia.

(19) Keep heading west, passing the hamlet of Machin before reaching a fountain with non-potable water that serves as a pond for frogs.

(20) Pass to the left of the fountain and then turn left. Pass in front of Château Armagnac Lassalle Baqué before reaching the junction with the D113. Turn right and follow the D113 downhill to the entrance to Montréal-du-Gers. Continue to the statue of the Virgin Mary.

(21) At the stop sign, at the junction with the D15, turn left then right before the Avia petrol station towards Montréal Centre, Rue Aurensan (provisions available at a butcher’s and a bakery). Continue to Place de l’Hôtel de Ville, which you cross, keeping in the same direction until you reach the arched passageway.

(22) Go under the archway towards the bank, Rue du Commandant Parisot, ignoring the^GR®654which goes to the right and the^GR®65which goes to the left. Continue to the stop sign and take the steps leading onto the D29 at the Relais Saint-Jacques.

(23) Turn left and follow the signs for Eauze. Cross the bridge over the Auzoue and continue along the D15 to arrive in front of the leisure centre (E) on the outskirts of Montréal-du-Gers. Enter the leisure centre to find a place to camp for the night (toilets and drinking water available on site).

Supplies available in Condom (numerous shops) (10) and in Montréal-du-Gers (23) (Bakery, butcher’s and Cocci Market) (E).
Camping at the leisure centre on the outskirts of Montréal-du-Gers. Toilets and water point on site.
Accommodation options in Montréal-du-Gers:
La Halte Du Rempart. Tel: 05 81 68 10 55 Info:
Lodge Compostela. Tel: 05 62 28 67 36 Info:
Victorianlodge. Tel: 05 62 29 42 35
Carpe Diem. Tel: 06 88 49 57 19 Info:
View the route profile

Castelnau-sur-l’Auvignon (S). At the heart of the village stands a 13th-century castle flanked by a square tower that served as a keep. A second castle was added in the 14th century, comprising a round tower that is still visible today.

The Chapel of Sainte-Germaine (3). The monastery was rebuilt in the early 12th century and given the name Santa Hermana, later changed to Sainte-Germaine. All that remains of the monastery is the church and its turret containing the spiral staircase leading up to the bell tower.

Condom from (8) to (11) and Saint-Pierre Cathedral (10)

The Pont d’Artigues (15) is one of the last Romanesque bridges, built between the 12th and 13th centuries, and one of the rare examples of civil architecture specifically erected for the passage of pilgrims on the Via Podiensis. The heyday of the Way of St James routes was between the 10th and 14th centuries. The bridge, as we see it today, is the result of a major restoration carried out in the 18th century.