Escassefort: Village Trail, Church and Fortification Remains

Escassefort lies on a hill northeast of Marmande. Highlights for a stay include the “Fil vert escargot d'Escassefort,” created by local residents, the Church of Sainte-Marcianne with its neo-Gothic bell tower, visible remains of a fortification, and Château Côte de France, which produces Côtes du Marmandais wines. These destinations appeal to different interests: community-created local history, historic architectural styles or wine. When planning your trip, you can therefore decide whether you mainly want to get to know the village itself, include a route or explore its wine connections.

The Fil vert: a village trail with a local touch

The “Fil vert escargot d'Escassefort” leads to notable places in the village. Local residents created it on June 16, 2023, as part of a participatory workshop. The information panels were designed by residents and volunteer associations. The trail can therefore be experienced both through the places it visits and through the community effort behind its creation. Along the route, there are footprints you can stand on to raise your gaze and discover a viewpoint. Panels and ground markings may change; if these are important to you, check in advance whether both are in place on the day of your visit.

Church and visible fortification

The present neo-Gothic bell tower of the Church of Sainte-Marcianne is crowned with a spire and dates from 1880. Around the central village and the church, substantial substructures of a fortification are still clearly visible. These include heavy, rectangular buttresses. The tower and the fortification remains reveal two different scales of the village’s built landscape: the structure of an individual building on the one hand, and architectural elements of a fortification around the centre on the other. These features are easy to distinguish when viewing the village: the bell tower has a specific date, while the fortification remains have a visible architectural form.

Another route: from Saint-Avit to Beaupuy

Another route is “Saint-Avit, la balade de la Fon du Roc.” It runs from Saint-Avit through Escassefort and along the Magdeleine hillside to Beaupuy. It is 5.8 kilometres long and rated easy. Its 5.8-kilometre distance and easy rating provide a specific planning guide for this route; by contrast, the Fil vert focuses on notable places and information panels created by residents. Route conditions may change; check them before setting out.

Wine in Mansac

Château Côte de France is located in Mansac, Escassefort, and welcomes visitors by appointment. Arrange your visit before you arrive. AOC Côtes du Marmandais wines are offered there in red, white and rosé. The château is accessible to people with reduced mobility. As access information may change, confirm the arrangements before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Masquières, Le Temple-Sur-Lot, Poussignac, Lavergne, Saint-Vincent-De-Lamontjoie, Blanquefort-Sur-Briolance, Fargues-sur-Ourbise, Marcellus

For the broader travel overview: Lot Et Garonne.