Nérac and the Moulin des Tours – 18 kms
Nérac, royal city
Nérac, with its Old Town, its Château Henri IV, its tanneries, its Harbour from where oe can start a cruise on the river. Very busy on Saturday mornings with its Farmers’ Market, and, in the summer, the evening market on Tuesday nights.
This Medieval and Renaissance City is built on the estate of a Gallo-Roman villa ; some of its mosaics can still be seen in the Parc de la Garenne and the Mairie. It is a Sous-Préfecture of the Lot-et-Garonne department, close to Agen. The small city is laid along the valley of the Baïse, a small navigable river which gives it a particular charm.
Not to be missed : the viewpoint from the esplanade of Saint-Nicolas Church or that of the Petit Nérac : the Harbour, the Tanneries, the Old Bridge, the Château Henri IV, the Maison des Conférences. You will discover many other sites walking the through the ancient streets.
Nérac, a capital of the good life
To start with, the Land of Gastronomy. Nérac has the taste of melon, the flavour of ceps, or else the smell of a pie of wood pigeon … In the coolness of the médiéval streets, under the sun-drenched roofs, welcoming doors will open. True local heritage.
Nérac, a Gascon Athens in the Renaissance. First and foremost, it is also a former Gallo-Roman villa, as the many mosaics found in the Parc de la Garenne bear witness.
Talking if the Parc de la Garenne… Located on the right bank of the Baïse, this garden laid out by Henri IV’s grandfather is the oldest listed site in the region. The Royal Park of of Château Henri IV features an « alley of 3000 steps ». One can enjoy a walk of 2.5 km through secular oaks, on the steps of Queen Margot and the loves of Henri IV, and fountains and romantic river banks. Between Poudenas and Nérac, you can also discover the romantic Château du Fréchou, a medieval castle modified in the 16th century, and its charming Italian garden with beautiful views over the Gascony hills and forests.
River Tourism in Nérac
The River Baïse is again open to navigation, boatmen have become holidaymakers getting a taste of the poetic charm on a ride on the water. The former harbour is again bustling with a busy crowd. But today, this is no longer about transporting balls of tobacco, corks and barrels of Buzet wine or white flour.
You will be seduced by the charm of its quays which have again found a festive atmosphere. Nowadays, the River Baïse is open to the wanderings of holidaymakers, but there were numerous difficulties to overcome when using it for river transport from the end of the 13th century. The many locks that remain on its course are the proof of it.
The river was difficult to tame, mirroring the the Queens who have shaped the history of Nérac. Take time to discover the Val de Baïse and its wealth of history.
The Moulin des Tours
The fortified Moulin des Tours in Barbaste and its romanesque bridge over the river Gélise are a must.
The fortifed mill in Barbaste started as a 14th century tower, modified later into a watermill, flanked at each corner with four smaller square towers. The transformations necessary to make it a mill have erased the indoors structure as an habitation. The place is mostly known for the many stays by the future King Henri IV. Nearby, golf lovers will find the 18-hole Golf d’Albret, and another one a little further at Casteljaloux… The site is open from June to September. Paying guided tours are available.
47600 Nérac, Download Nerac Town Plan
http://albret-tourisme.com/
A recommendation by Gascony Manor House
