Montréal du Gers – Eauze

(S) Leave the leisure centre heading towards Montréal-du-Gers. Cross the bridge over the Auzoue and turn right onto the D15 towards Condom. At the rubbish bins, turn right towards La Hérouse. Continue until you reach a stream that feeds into a small pond.

(1) Keep heading in the same direction along a stony path, following the Ruisseau Lauzoue more or less closely. Continue until you reach the junction with a tarmac road.

(2) Turn left (south) and continue to the hamlet known as La Barrière de Ribère.

(3) Turn right onto the small tarmac road leading down towards Barrière de Ribère. Pass the old gatekeeper’s house and follow a disused railway line as far as Château de Montaut, a lake and the pumping station.

(4) Leave this pleasant, shaded route on the right, go under the old railway line and cross the Auzoue. Continue westwards to the fork near a pond.

(5) Turn south-west to join the D230, following a stony path along the edge of a field.

(6) Follow the D230 southwards for a good hundred metres, then turn right onto a dirt track climbing through the vineyards: be careful, as the track is muddy and very slippery when wet.

(7) Take a 90° left-hand bend through the vineyards to continue climbing up to the hamlet of Basquin.

(8) Continue south-west until you reach the D29.

(9) Keep left onto the small path running parallel to the main road, then head right onto a stony track towards Le Bédat. After a 90° bend in the hamlet, you’ll reach the junction with the D31.

(10) First turn right then left and head towards Le Bourdieu down a slope through fields and vineyards.

(11) Turn left to climb a grassy path towards the hamlet of Lamothe and arrive in front of the Lodge Le Mille Bornes: food and refreshments available.

(12) Head right at the hairpin bend, pass the church and a compass rose, and continue along the GR® 65, which descends a steep slope to the Izaute.

(13) Cross the river and continue south-west to reach the platform of the old railway line. Carry on until you reach the place known as La Gare (the old station).

(14) Cross the D264 and continue straight ahead along the path built on the old railway line, following the Ruisseau du Coupé. Continue until you reach the hamlet known as Le Coupé.

(15) Cross the road at a bend, heading down the dead-end track, and continue until you reach a bridge.

(16) Continue straight on, staying on the path which takes a wide left-hand bend to head due south. Cross a wooden bridge over a small road, before reaching the junction with Chemin du Pouy, in front of a former gatekeeper’s house.

(17) Continue straight on towards Eauze, staying on the path marked by two metal posts.

(18) After crossing the Gélise, continue south-west to arrive to the right of the Leclerc supermarket in Eauze (where you can stock up on supplies) and the junction with the D931.

(19) Turn right onto Avenue de la Tenarèze and follow signs for the town centre. At the junction with Boulevard Saint-Blancat, continue straight on towards the Town Hall along Rue Saint-July. Pass Place de la République before arriving in front of Saint-Luperc Cathedral.

(20) Turn left after 150 m to find the Tourist Office, which will provide information on camping sites or allow you to spend the night in the municipal lodge (E).

Provisions available at Lodge le Mille Bornes (12), and Eauze (19).
(E) Bivouac: ask at the Tourist Office to find a place to pitch your tent. That evening, given the bad weather, I preferred to stay at the communal lodge, which allowed me to dry my gear, do my laundry and spend a dry night. The Tourist Office manages the communal lodge.

La Tour de Lamothe (12) takes its name from one of the two main seigneuries present in the 13th century within the current commune of Cazeneuve. It stands on a feudal motte overlooking the Izaute valley, the natural boundary between the regions of Ténarèze and Bas-Armagnac. This watchtower and defensive structure comprises five storeys.

(20) Eauze: formerly a Roman colony and capital of Novempopulania, Elusa was also, in the 4th century, one of the first bishoprics. The town was destroyed during the early Middle Ages. At the top of the hill overlooking the ruins of the ancient city, a priory was founded around 980 and attached to the Benedictine Order of Cluny.