Richard Lowes ,Landscape photography

Gascony

a snapshot of The Gers

The Gers is the cradle of Gascony, a land steeped in History,this musketeer's realm,made legendary by d'Artagnan,is also a region steeped in the mysticism of the Santiago de Compostela pilgramage. La Romieu is one of the many staging posts for the pilgrim on his way to Santiago.

Where, What is Gascony, Gers ? Gascony is in the South West of France and comprises of three departments, The Landes, The Lot-et-Garonne and the Gers. The Gers stretches from Agen in the North to Mielan in the South with Auch " Osh" being the main town, The Gers is mainly agricultural and because of this it is a relatively poor area, not much work for the young who migrate ! to the towns as what has happened in other parts of France. Also the the Gers has only one town which has a population of 22,00 or more and that is Auch , so traveling is a pleasure while driving along the country lanes you seldom see any traffic except the occasional farm tractor or during the Vendage at the end of September and October when the farmers harvest the grapes, The Gers is a land of Bastides ( Fortified Villages ) over a hundred including Larressingle, the so called Carcassone of the Gers. Sunflowers ( Tournesols ) dominates the landscape during July with Melons and Geese which produces foie gras ,confit and magret but the main produce is Wine and Armagnac,