Gascon castles starting from Bastide de Valence-su Baïse.

This circular route is dotted with historical sites, castles, chapels, abbeys, and the villages of Cassaigne and Mansencôme, and winds through woods and vineyards, alternating between paths and trails.

This route starts in Valence-sur-Baïse, a 13th-century fortified town.

Details

1875884
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 16.21 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 188 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 190 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 186 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 81 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the square near the church.

(S/E) Head south-east and turn left onto Rue Victor Hugo, which runs alongside the church, then turn left again onto Boulevard du Nord. Continue straight ahead until you reach the right-angle bend.

(1) In the bend, take the path on the right and continue until you reach the road. Cross the road, turn right, then left at the roundabout onto the D930 road.
Take care. Continue to the next crossroads.

(2) At the bend, after the Alloue, take the road opposite towards Flaran Abbey via the D142. Stay on this road and cross the Baïse bridge. Then, at the bend, take the garden path opposite Flaran Abbey.

(3) Pass in front of the abbey (which you can visit) and continue to the junction with the D142 road. Continue for 500 metres, turn right onto this road, pass in front of the racecourse and continue to the junction with a path on the right.

(4) Turn right, then immediately left onto the path that leads into the Bois des Moines. Cross the woods, staying on this path until you reach a tarmac road.

(5) Turn right to visit the Flarembel Chapel and Château Léberon, then retrace your steps and, at the crossroads, turn right and continue along this road. At a place called Pisset, leave the road that branches off to the right and follow the path opposite. Continue until you reach the crossroads.

(6) Turn onto the path on the left and continue along this path until you reach the D142 road, passing the altitudes of 117m and 150m.

(7) Turn right and follow the D142 road again for a few dozen metres, then take the path on the right. Continue straight ahead until you reach the three-way junction, then go straight ahead for a few metres until you reach the crossroads.

(8) Turn left and follow this path to the D208 road. Take care. On the road, continue left for 400 metres, passing in front of Cassaigne Castle (which can be visited). Continue straight ahead, passing a first crossroads. Continue to the three-way junction.

(9) Turn left onto the D229 uphill. Pass the hamlet of Cachelardit and continue to the third path on the left (PR® signposting).

(10) Turn left onto a path and continue to a carriage road (altitude 134).

(11) Turn right, pass the hamlet of Aignan and continue straight ahead on a path until you reach the tarmac road.

(12) Turn left and continue straight ahead, ignoring the paths that branch off to the right and left. Stay on this road until you reach the village of Mansencôme. Cross the village until you reach the last path on the left before the village exit.

(13) Turn left, then take the path that branches off to the left before the hamlet of Labourdette. Continue along this path downhill through the vineyards until you reach the paved road at the hamlet of Garbaillot. Turn left and continue to the crossroads.

(14) Continue to the right and follow this path to the D112 road, ignoring the paths that branch off to the right and left. Turn right and continue for about 30 metres until you reach the path that branches off to the left.

(15) Take the path to the left of the road. Before the old Douam farm, take the path on the left and stay on this path until you reach Valence-sur-Baïse. You will arrive at the low-lying junction with the D112 road. Turn right and continue for a few metres until you reach the junction with the D571 road. Take care.

(16) Continue left, cross the Baïse bridge, then immediately turn left onto a path that leads to the marina. At the end of the path, turn right.

(17) Cross the D939 road, continue opposite the wooden steps, then cross Boulevard de Lissagaray and take the steeply ascending Cote de l'Hérisson opposite. At the junction with Rue des Remparts, take a sharp left turn to the fortified gate.

(18) Go through the fortified gate, then at the crossroads turn left onto Rue Saint-Jean, then take the first right and then left to arrive at the square in front of the church of Valence-sur-Baïse (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 118 m - Square in front of the - Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste (Valence-sur-Baïse)
  2. 1 : km 0.34 - alt. 114 m - Path on the right. Towards the bridge at - Baïse (rivière)
  3. 2 : km 0.71 - alt. 84 m - Crossroads after the - Auloue (rivière)
  4. 3 : km 1.25 - alt. 85 m - Abbaye de Flaran (Valence-sur-Baïse)
  5. 4 : km 1.85 - alt. 91 m - Path on the right Bois des Moines
  6. 5 : km 2.39 - alt. 117 m - Crossroads at the exit of Bois des Moines
  7. 6 : km 3.58 - alt. 96 m - Le Gaillou crossroads
  8. 7 : km 5.09 - alt. 160 m - Junction D142
  9. 8 : km 5.48 - alt. 141 m - Buzet trail junction
  10. 9 : km 6.4 - alt. 128 m - Three-way junction, turn left
  11. 10 : km 7.01 - alt. 141 m - PR trail junction, on the left
  12. 11 : km 7.96 - alt. 134 m - Turn right at the road
  13. 12 : km 9.27 - alt. 171 m - Téous crossroads, on the left
  14. 13 : km 11.13 - alt. 180 m - Mansencôme crossroads on the left
  15. 14 : km 12.18 - alt. 117 m - Three-way junction at the Calvary on the right
  16. 15 : km 13.58 - alt. 121 m - Junction of the D112 and the path on the left
  17. 16 : km 15.57 - alt. 86 m - Intersection of the D112 and D571
  18. 17 : km 15.83 - alt. 82 m - Crossroads at the marina car park
  19. 18 : km 16.02 - alt. 114 m - Fortified gate
  20. S/E : km 16.21 - alt. 118 m - Square in front of the church

Notes

- Bring a map of the route.

Worth a visit

Visit to Valence-sur-Baïse
Flaran Abbey
Flarambel Chapel
Léberon Castle
Village of Cassaigne and its castle
Village of Mansencôme, its castle and church

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 16 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
Clotilde Roisin
Clotilde Roisin

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant walk through the vineyards of the Gers region, dotted with beautiful properties scattered across the landscape.

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pastrouver
pastrouver

A lovely walk through the vineyards and countryside of the Gers region. Followed by a visit to Flaran Abbey

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LaPierre
LaPierre

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk through the hills of Gers.
The route was completed under a few showers, which created beautiful, changing light conditions.
Highly recommended!

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chafrise
chafrise

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

some difficulties with the GPS, which occasionally displays route deviations.

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alpini.friuli
alpini.friuli
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

An interesting route through the Gers countryside, often passing through the wine-growing regions of Armagnac and Saint-Mont. There are some beautiful historic buildings (Flaran Abbey, Cassaigne Castle) during the first part of the route, which are well worth visiting, but this will considerably lengthen the hike... One criticism and one big regret: too many sections of tarmac road. This somewhat detracts from the appeal and charm of walking in the beautiful rural Gers countryside. A shame
Saluti a tutti

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lucepj
lucepj

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 02, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

very nice walk, but avoid periods when the vines are being treated, otherwise you'll get a strong whiff of it

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sequoia1
sequoia1

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk among castles, villages and vineyards. We took a wrong turn at 5-6, followed the yellow markings and got back on track through the vineyards. At 6, you must stop and visit Cassaigne!
Route starting from the Aliziers campsite.

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yvonnealadel
yvonnealadel

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

a route through the Gers countryside with beautiful views, a bit of heritage, not too many tarmac roads, easy to follow with the GPX track and good weather to boot!

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Kleb
Kleb

A wonderful walk with beautiful views and beautiful buildings.

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Roroboubou
Roroboubou

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 12, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Description: why mention (13) the D571, which is much further away and is not relevant to the end of the hike? It would be sufficient to note the D112 and D939.
Interest: sections on tarmac, dangerous, with heavy lorry traffic in some places...
A pleasant walk in the beautiful countryside of the Gers.

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vlerk
vlerk

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike with no difficulty whatsoever. How beautiful the Gers is.
— Yellow "PR24" markings.
— Hike completed using the Visorando description and map (no GPS).
— Quite a few difficult paths, but you can often walk along the grassy edges.
Thank you very much!
---
Vlerk
(I am not a native French speaker. Please excuse me if my rudimentary French leads me to write nonsense or offensive things.)

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psm
psm

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 31, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely route on this last day of 2019
We avoided the parish specific to Brittany to the end of the season
To be repeated in the sunshine
Pierre

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VIATGE Alain
VIATGE Alain

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 26, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

On a beautiful day at the end of October, a real treat. A superb view of the Pyrenees... pure bliss!

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Binoche19
Binoche19

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 21, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A good route to take

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pmillion
pmillion

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Magnificent, well-marked hike. Great diversity of landscapes.

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