Valence-sur-Baise is a bastide town, founded in 1274 on the banks of the Baise river in the Gers department in the Midi-Pyrenees region.
Explore Valence-sur-Baise
France This Way review: although it is quite a small village, Valence-sur-Baise has an attractive main square and church, so it is worth a visit if you are exploring nearby
The main part of the town is centered around the church and central arcaded square, but Valence also has a river port with facilities for those arriving at the village by boat. The church and well are both on the pretty main square which is surrounded by arcaded buildings which are now converted into a mix of bars, restaurants and shops.
Valence-sur-Baise was originally surrounded by eight meter high ramparts with four large stone gateways. Sections of the ramparts still exist along with one of the gates, the Porte d'Espagne also known as the 'hedgehog'. The ramparts are floodlit on a night making them very pleasant for an evening stroll.
Valence's church was built in the 16th century but has been quite extensively changed over the course of the following centuries. It has an unusual long, flat frontage flanked by two towers, though the church originally only had one tower.
Like many bastides Valence-sur-Baise has a number of wells, three of which are in the main square. One is just in front of the church and is very pretty. As the village is sat upon a rocky outcrop the wells are deep, and having these wells in the village allowed the residents to withstand the sieges that took place during France's chequered history.
The raised position of the village also means you have some good views over the Gascony countryside towards the Pyrenees.
Attractions nearby
A little outside the village you can visit the Abbaye de Flaran, an ancient Cistercian abbey founded in the mid 12th century. The abbey has a 14th century Gothic cloister and is one of the best conserved abbeys in south-west France.
The abbey is now often used for concerts and exhibitions and has a permanent exhibition of the pilgrim routes to Compostella.
Valence sur Baise is close to Condom and the beautiful fortified village of Larressingle. From Condom you can do a boat trip to Valence-sur-Baise and back - a trip of nine kilometres.
The Chateau de Lavardens in the lovely village of Lavardens has some excellent exhibitions.
You can find more travel ideas in the Gers guide and the Midi-Pyrenees guide.
To make travel arrangements to visit Valence-sur-Baise see HERE
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Places to visit near Valence-sur-Baise
Condom cathedral
The cathedral in Condom includes a rood-screen, 15th century doorways and a large cloister among its points of interest
Condom cathedral guide
Condom
In the town of Condom it is the Cathedral of Saint-Pierre and historic centre that is of interest to visitors
Condom guide
Larressingle
Larressingle is a perfect medieval fortified village, with the defensive walls around the town still almost completely intact
Larressingle guide
Vic Fezensac
Vic Fezensac is enjoyable to explore at any time, but best known for the music festivals held here each summer
Vic Fezensac guide
Montreal-du-Gers
After exploring the picturesque village at Montreal-du-Gers you can visit the Roman Villa of Seviac nearby
Montreal-du-Gers guide
Fources
Fources, one of the 'most beautiful villages in France' is unusual in being a bastide town that follows a circular layout
Fources guide... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Gers
Address: Valence-sur-Baïse, Midi-Pyrenees, 32310, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 43.883056, longitude 0.382222
Plan your visit to Valence-sur-Baise, Gers
Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby
- Beaumont sur l'Osee pont d'Artigues (monuments on French pilgrim routes): heritage site (8 km)
- Larressingle: most beautiful village (9 km)
- Blaziert: ville fleurie 4* (10 km)
- La Romieu Collegiale St Pierre (monuments on French pilgrim routes): heritage site (14 km)
- Jardin et arboretum de Coursiana: remarkable garden (14 km)
- Montreal-du-Gers: most beautiful village (16 km)
- Fources: most beautiful village (17 km)
- Lectoure: recommended detour (20 km)
- Ordan-Larroque: ville fleurie 4* (23 km)
- Nerac: secteur sauvegarde (28 km)
- Auch cathédrale St Just (monuments on French pilgrim routes): heritage site (31 km)
- Gramont Chateau: national monument (31 km)
The French version of this page is at Valence-sur-Baise (Francais)