Valence sur Baïse is a small Bastide town (origins 13th century), set on a ridge, right in the centre of Gascony at the limit of navigation of the river Baïse (pronounced Baa-ease). The Baïse is a tributary of the Garonne which enters the sea at Bordeaux. Our Gite stands at the southern end of the town with an unspoiled, spectacular view across the river Baïse valley towards the Pyrénées.
The Gers Region
When the Romans arrived in the 2nd century BC they named this region Gascony after the Vascones, the Celtic tribes they found here. Napoleon removed the official status of Gascony when he renamed departments and regions to undermine local allegiances. However, any visitors to the clean and tidy Gers, the present name of the region, will find that the inhabitants are extremely proud to be Gascon. The Middle Ages was the time when the appearance of the countryside of today was formed. Bastides, which are fortified towns and villages normally built on a hill, were built by both the English and the French during the Hundred Years war. Valence sur Baïse was actually English for about 100 years. |
The basic design of these towns was always the same: a grid pattern around an arcaded square and strong defensible walls. Many of the towns and villages have arcades, a characteristic of the architecture of the Gers. The origins of these date back many centuries, as evidenced by the structural timbers often on display. The old and exquisite landscape of rolling wooded hills interspersed with orchards, spring flowering trees, small vineyards and fields of sunflowers in the summer, is all the more accessible given that the population is only 174,000.
The climate of this independent area, combined with its gregarious population, encourages people to enjoy themselves, and Gascons welcome any visitors wishing to join in with their pursuit of pleasure. The Gers pace of life remains rural and is dominated by the seasons. Locals are very enthusiastic about flowers and one finds them everywhere. If a garden is not available, then pots stand outside the houses. Markets are brimming with fresh local produce (though one can often also find delicious pre-cooked Moroccan food on some market stalls), and the area is the prime producer of Foie Gras in France [Noted for information only - John & Barbara do not support the treatment of Ducks used in Foie Gras production]. Duck and other poultry are the major influence on the cuisine. The Gascons are justly proud of the wines of the area as well as their Armagnac brandy – which many local French think is the only spirit worth consuming. Try it and you may well agree with them! |
