Discover Mauroux

Those choosing Mauroux as a destination can plan their trip around several different highlights: the old Castelnau with its defensive remains, churches with distinct historical features, and the astronomy activities at the Ferme des étoiles. The village also has a picnic area and toilets; Ladouce offers products by appointment. This lets you shape your stay around the topic that interests you most.

The Castelnau and the village setting

The old Castelnau of Mauroux stands on a rocky promontory at the edge of a plateau surrounded by deep ravines carved by streams. Surviving architectural traces include the site of a medieval feudal castle, castle ruins, sections of fortified walls, 18th-century houses and a covered passageway. The rocky promontory and ravines define the landscape, while the castle site and walls provide a historical landmark.

Below, there are a few troglodyte-style houses, as well as a circular washhouse and a large livestock watering trough. The village setting therefore extends beyond the defensive remains to include other homes and facilities. Those interested in the history of the Castelnau can view the medieval remains and the 18th-century houses as links to different periods in history.

Two churches with distinct features

The parish church of Saint Pierre-Saint Paul was built in the 15th century and stands outside the fortifications of Mauroux. Its date of construction adds a historical dimension to its location beyond the walls. The church can thus be viewed in the context of the village, without conflating it with the defensive remains of the Castelnau.

The church of Saint-Martin de Las Oumettes has a different building history: it was rebuilt at a new site, more than 500 metres from the former church. The building is a rectangular hall, 21 metres long and 7 metres wide, with a flat-ended choir. It has three altars, including ones dedicated to Saint Martial and Saint Francis of Assisi. While the features that stand out at Saint Pierre-Saint Paul are its date of construction and its location outside the fortifications, at Saint-Martin they are the change of site, the dimensions and the altars. These differences give each church its own historical and architectural focus.

Astronomy as another travel highlight

The Ferme des étoiles adds a very different dimension. This establishment in Mauroux offers flight simulators, telescopes and a planetarium; it also holds astronomy events in the evening. Its offering thus includes simulations, telescopes and a planetarium, as well as evening events. If you plan your trip around your interests, you can make astronomy a focus in its own right alongside the village’s historic character. If an evening event is important to your trip, check the dates in advance.

Visitor facilities and local products

The village has a picnic area and toilets. If you plan to rely on these facilities, check their current status before your visit. At Ladouce, ducks and geese are raised using traditional methods and force-fed to produce foie gras. Foie gras and preserved foods are available at the farm or at summer markets, by appointment in either case. This is a separate point of interest for travellers interested in local products. Make an appointment in advance, and check the current date if you plan to visit a summer market.

Discover more destinations: Plieux, Lagraulet-Du-Gers, Panassac, Estang, Projan, Mouchan, Gensac, Réjaumont.

For the broader travel overview: Gers.