Auradou

When you choose Auradou as your destination, you can tailor your stay to different interests: the parish church of Saint-Martin offers insight into the village’s architectural and religious history, while the Penne-d’Agenais–Auradou route is a longer hiking destination. The manor house in La Calcinie and seasonal visits at Côtes des Oliviers provide further specific points of interest.

Saint-Martin and the history of the village

The parish church of Saint-Martin is located in the village of Auradou. Of the Romanesque building, which is believed to date from the 12th century, only the south portal remains today; it has been bricked up and is badly damaged. The church was devastated during the Wars of Religion and described in 1595 as “almost completely in ruins.” A surviving but damaged architectural feature thus stands alongside a historical description of the church’s condition at the time. This chronology provides a specific point of reference for understanding the village’s history: its Romanesque origins are presumed, while the devastation and description mark a later chapter in the church’s history.

The manor house in La Calcinie

The manor house in La Calcinie is in Auradou and is privately owned. The remains of the house survive in poor condition. The estate also includes an agricultural shed, a plum-drying oven and a dovecote. The plum-drying oven points to a specific form of processing, while the shed and dovecote add further elements to the description of the estate. This broadens the picture beyond the manor house to include its associated buildings. When considering the site, it is also important to bear in mind the poor condition of the manor house remains.

The Penne-d’Agenais–Auradou route

The Penne-d’Agenais–Auradou route is 23 kilometres long and is considered one of the most challenging routes in the département. Its landscape includes steep hills, narrow valleys and long stretches across plateaus. For your planning, both the distance and the changing terrain matter: this is a longer, demanding hike, not a short walk. Check the local trail markers before setting out. The combination of hills, valleys and plateau sections also gives you a clearer idea of the types of landscape covered by the route description.

Visits and produce at Côtes des Oliviers

Cellar tours at Côtes des Oliviers are available by request. Visits to the orchards and plum-drying ovens are offered seasonally. These visits have different requirements: a cellar visit requires an enquiry, while visits to the orchards and ovens take place seasonally. Confirm your preferred date in advance so you can account for the enquiry or the season in your travel plans.

The range includes red wine, rosé, dry and sweet white wine, as well as sparkling wine made using the traditional method. It also includes walnuts and plums from clay- and limestone-rich terroir. The product range may change. The products mentioned therefore include various wine styles as well as walnuts and plums; the visits remain separate visitor experiences.

Discover more destinations: Dolmayrac, Cancon, Saint-Martin-Curton, Monsempron-Libos, Escassefort, Calignac, Granges-Sur-Lot, Casteljaloux

For the main travel overview: Lot Et Garonne.