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Buildings of
Interest
Saint Mary’s Cathedral
In the town of Auch, is this magnificient
cathedral, listed in 1998 as a UNESCO world
heritage site. It was built in stages over a
course of 200 years, with work commencing in
1489, and being completed in 1680. Apart from
the amazing architecture of the building itself,
the incredible stained glass windows by Arnaud
de Moles, and the Large Organ, one of the most
famous from the 17th century, make this well
worth a visit.
Lavardens Castle
Open to the public daily, this castle was
destroyed by fire in the 15th Century, and was
rebuilt in the 17th by Antoine de Roquelaure,
after receiving it from Henri de Navarre.
Visitors are allowed wide ranging access to the
building, allowing them to appreciate the
structure and layout of the castle, and also
some amazing views. The castles website (in
French only) is at
www.chateaulavardens.com.
Opening times vary.
The Cistercian Abbey of Flaran
Towards the north of the Gers department is the Abbey of Flaran. Built by the Cistercians in the middle of the 12th century, this small well preserved building still reflects the purity and simplicity of the Cistercian lifestyle. Prayer, poverty and manual labour formed the backbone of the monks way of life. These days, there is often an art exhibition in the abbey that can have pieces by Rodin, Picasso, Sickart etc. Information is available in English as well as French.
The abbey is open all year except during January, and closes for lunch except in July and August.
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