The area is renowned for its gastronomy, including especially duck and foie gras. There are numerous restaurants ranging in price from 12 euros up to 50 euros to try out. The local wines are excellent and give good value for money, and it is essential to try the Armagnac and the aperitif "Floc de Gascoigne". There are tours around some of the vineyards at no charge (Monluc, Cassaigne, for example).

The town of Condom is easily and quickly accessible, and you can have boat rides along the river Baïse (photo below left), visit the Armagnac museum.

The smallest walled town in France is a fascinating part of a short tour of the Gers which could also include the remains of the Roman villa at Séviac. And don't forget the garlic festivals in Beaumont and Saint-Clar! Agen, Montauban (Ingres Museum), Albi (photo below right) for Toulouse Lautrec Museum, Toulouse (France's 4th largest town) are all within easy travelling distance, along with the Pyrenees, Cahors, Auch, Tarbes, Pau and Lourdes.

Carcassonne (photo below left) is about 1 and 1/2 hours' drive. The sea is about 2 and 1/2 hours away to either Med or Atlantic. Other local attractions include: Honey Museum, Châteaux at Gramont and Marsac, Water Sports Centre at St-Nicolas-de-la-Grave, golf at Espalais, the cloisters at the abbey of Moissac (UNESCO listed), the Abbey at La Romieu (UNESCO listed).

Auch (photo below right) is known for its Armagnac production and the finest foie-gras de canard that France has to offer! The bustling Saturday markets are a great place to sample some of this local fare.

If you can tear yourself away from the market, take a stroll to the town's Cathedrale St-Pierre with its remarkable furnishings and 15th-century stained-glass. Linking the cathedral square to the quays below is the escalier monumental (232 steps in total) where you'll find the Statue of d'Artagnan, whose real-life character (Charles de Batz) was immortalised by the novelist Alexandre Dumas.

Historically an important trading post linking Toulouse with the Atlantic coast, Auch is a convenient spot for exploring the Gers countryside with its picturesque villages such as Lavardens and Boulaur.