On the way of St. James, shared pleasures

As the owners of Château de Mercuès, the Vigouroux family are a part of the tradition of South West wine making families - and the Cahors appellation. In the seventies, Georges Vigouroux used all of his energy and expertise to replant some 250,000 Malbec grape plants 300m above sea level in one fell swoop. It is now a reference estate. Tours of the vineyards and wine cellars, wine tastings, cooking classes and even 'harvest workshops' are available on site. You can also have lunch in the old wine cellars that have been converted into a bistro.

Less known than Lascaux, this cave is nevertheless home to one of the largest Palaeolithic sanctuaries in Europe. Discovered by two teenagers in 1922, it is home to a large variety of concretions and prehistoric paintings dating back over 25,000 years. There are several hundred patterns and engraved or painted drawings (hands, mammoths, horses, etc.). The chapel of mammoths and the representation of punctuated horses are worth the trip alone (the number of visitors is limited to 700 each day)…

A must see on the road to Saint Jacques de Compostela, Moissac Abbey is famous for its marvellous cloister (11th century). The cloister is in the shade of a majestic cedar tree and has 116 columns and 76 capitals which are reminiscent of biblical stories. Outside, the tympanum of the gate to the abbey church (12th century) is yet another example of a masterpiece of of Romanesque sculpture. According to John the Evangelist, it is dedicated to the Apocalypse. The abbey is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Known to all Tour de France fans, Notre-Dame des Cyclistes is quite a unique place of worship. Since 1959, this chapel has been dedicated to the dogged courage and achievements of anonymous cyclists and champions alike. Located on the road to Lourdes and Santiago de Compostela, relics here are old jerseys donated by Luis Ocaña, Eddy Merckx, Raymond Poulidor, and Jeannie Longo. Recognized as the 'Little Queen', the chapel was the starting point of a stage on Sunday, July 9, 1989. On this occasion, mass was celebrated in the open air...

Don't be fooled by its name--the Gascon Peasant Museum is a formidable testimony to the daily life of the region's peasants at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The impressive collection of agricultural machinery and tools evokes a past world rich in tradition and culture. A conservatory orchard reminds visitors of many forgotten varieties of vegetables... 

Fun for the whole family, the Course Landaise is an integral part of the Gascon tradition. It was in the Robert-Castagnon arena that the first French championships of the discipline were organized in 1959. Even today, in the heart of summer, the 'flying men' compete by performing somersaults and swan dives over small black cows. To the music of the bandas, the joyful and sportive spectacle will please all aficionados, be they first-timers or veterans.

In the heart of the Landes region, the Huchet coastal river offers a wonderful little adventure between the Etang de Léon lake and the Atlantic Ocean. You'll descend the approximately 6-mile distance between marshes, dunes, and peat bogs in a galupe, a traditional flat-bottomed boat. A multitude of protected bird species nest throughout this nature reserve, accompanied by otters, mink, and small European pond turtles. And listen out for the boatmen so in love with their small river...