Tournon-D'agenais: Bastide and Heritage

Tournon-D'agenais is a bastide founded in the 13th century, with an octagonal layout and straight streets. The townscape combines this planned layout with medieval building elements and later additions. For travellers who want to shape their stay around culture and specific activities, options range from walks along the town walls and religious and secular architecture to a puzzle trail and a guided off-road tour.

Bastide, Town Walls and Bell Tower

The Tour de Ville follows the former chemin de ronde along the town walls and offers views over the Boudouyssou valley. The entire area of the Tour des remparts was listed as a historic monument in 1952. Medieval traces can also be found beyond these fortifications: 38 houses have surviving building elements from the 13th and 14th centuries. Together with the octagonal layout and straight streets, they provide several historical points of reference in the townscape.

The municipal bell tower stands in the central square. It was built in 1637 at a corner, on medieval arcades with covered walkways. Another layer of history was added during a roof restoration at the end of the 20th century, when a moon-phase clock was installed. The tower's construction and the clock's installation are therefore several centuries apart. Those interested in architecture will find here, alongside the bastide layout, a single building in which different periods of construction can be distinguished.

Church and Abescat

The Église Saint-André-de-Carabaisse preserves building elements from the 12th century, including a sealed Romanesque portal in the south wall of the nave. The Abescat was built between the late 13th and early 14th centuries and has a particularly carefully designed, sculpted façade. Traditionally, it is considered to have been the former residence of the bishops of Agen; it is also classified as a historic monument. The building thus brings together an intricately crafted façade, a traditional historical attribution and protected-monument status.

Comparing routes and activities

Tournon-D'agenais lies on the GR®652, a 120-kilometre variant of the GR®65 used by pilgrims travelling from Le Puy-en-Velay. Routes and distance information may change. A different way to explore is the Tèrra Aventura “Tournon autour de la lune”: this family-friendly treasure hunt covers 4.5 kilometres and includes eight puzzles. It is available year-round and can be completed using the mobile app or a route sheet. As activity details may change, it is advisable to check the latest information before your visit.

E-Way Adventure offers a guided off-road tour from Tournon-D'agenais on an electric all-terrain scooter. The route covers 28 kilometres and the stated duration is 2 hours and 30 minutes. This makes the experience different from the puzzle trail in both distance and guided format. Details of this operator's offering may change, so check what is currently available before making plans.

Regional flavours and a set festival date

The guided E-Way tour includes a tasting of Vin du Tsar wines with a cellar visit, as well as a stop at a saffron farm where visitors are introduced to its operations. Another culinary highlight is the Foire à la Tourtière, held every year on 15 August. The focus is the traditional tourtière: a pastry filled with apples and flavoured with plum brandy or Armagnac. If you would like to plan your trip around this occasion, you can include the date in your itinerary.

Discover more destinations: Bournel, Pinel-Hauterive, Saint-Front-Sur-Lémance, Agen, Castillonnès, Saint-Sernin, Saint-Eutrope-De-Born, Agnac.

For the overview of the wider region: Lot Et Garonne.