Varès: Landscapes, Churches and Fiesta’s

Varès lies in the Tolzac Valley; its municipal boundaries extend to the first hills of Haut-Agenais. Beyond the valley, the municipal area consists mainly of low hills cut through by small valleys running perpendicular to the main river. This brings together a river valley and hill country shaped by side valleys. Orchards of plum, hazelnut, walnut and cherry trees are part of the agricultural landscape. If you choose a destination for its scenery, Varès offers a distinct picture of valleys, hills, side valleys and orchards.

Churches and architectural history

The churches of Saint-Cyrq and Sainte-Marthe offer different historical and architectural highlights. Saint-Cyrq, also known as the Church of Villottes, dates from the 15th century. Its features include a single-nave church, a southern chapel and a semicircular apse. It also has a bell-tower porch with two arches, supported by two buttresses. The church’s history includes a significant rupture: it was destroyed by the Huguenots during the Wars of Religion and rebuilt around 1672. The 15th century and the approximate rebuilding date therefore refer to different stages in its history.

The church of Sainte-Marthe dates from the 12th century. Because of its proximity to the now-vanished Château d’Artigues, it is also called Sainte-Marthe d’Artigues. Its single-nave church and semicircular apse are features it shares with Saint-Cyrq. The bell architecture is described differently: Sainte-Marthe has a triangular bell gable with one arch, while Saint-Cyrq has a bell-tower porch with two arches. Sainte-Marthe is thought to possibly have served as a chapel for a seigneurial family.

Fiesta’s Varès and travel planning

Fiesta’s Varès is an annual village festival: it lasts four days and takes place on the last weekend of July at Place de l’Europe. The exact dates vary from year to year. The published programme for the 2026 edition included an outdoor bingo event and a ceremony handing over the village keys, as well as DJ sets, live music and a flea market. A meal by advance reservation, refreshments, food and drink available on site, and a fireworks display were also planned for this edition. In 2026, parking was set up in the town centre for access to the festival site. If you want to plan your trip around the festival, check the date for your chosen year: the last weekend of July describes the recurring pattern, but is not a substitute for an exact calendar date.

A point of interest for nature enthusiasts

The municipality provides a list of living species recorded on the municipal parcel of Les Roches. For travellers interested in local species, the list offers a specific point of reference. You can consult it when planning your visit without extrapolating its information to the entire municipal area.

Discover more destinations: Bourgougnague, Saint-Jean-De-Duras, Marmande, Moncrabeau, Boé, Beauville, Ferrensac, Tombeboeuf

For the broader travel overview: Lot Et Garonne.