Cazères: Heritage and River History

If you are looking for a hotel in Cazères, you can get to know the town through tangible evidence of its history: old houses, religious art, fountains and the Hourride’s former uses. The sites highlight different periods and themes. Both the construction dates and the stories associated with individual places can help you find your way around.

History in houses and fountains

The Case de Montserrat was built in 1547 and is one of the oldest houses in Cazères. In the early 17th century, it passed into the ownership of the Catalan Abbey of Montserrat; until 1792, it was the seat of the abbey’s general procurators for the Kingdom of France. The construction date and its later function mark different chapters in the history of the house.

At the Fontaine du Bourguet, there is a carved stone bearing the date 1562. The fountain also served as a rest stop for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela. It thus combines a dated architectural detail with a historic function for pilgrims.

The Church of Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption houses a statue of Saint James the Greater, created in 1655 and listed as a protected object. Another religious site is the grotto in Cazères: it contains a Notre-Dame oratory and a so-called miraculous well beneath a stone lintel bearing the date 1665.

River history and exhibitions

The Maison Garonne has a permanent exhibition trail about the river’s role in local people’s lives, as well as a space for temporary exhibitions. The two formats combine a permanent thematic focus with changing exhibitions. If you want to see a particular temporary exhibition, check the current programme in advance.

The history of the Hourride is also connected with everyday life along the river. For centuries, wash-houses, dye works, cloth mills, mills and tanneries shaped the waterway along the section that runs through Cazères. These different uses offer a distinct way of exploring the working history of this stretch of river as part of the town’s history.

Exploring Cazères

A historical and Way of St. James-themed walking route passes through the town centre of Cazères, at the confluence of the Garonne and the Hourride. If you plan to walk it, check the current conditions on site.

The Jardin Garonne is a public park in Cazères. You can go for a walk, have a picnic and enjoy nature there. A visit to the park therefore complements the historical themes with an opportunity to spend time outdoors.

A cycling route note published in 2024 describes a variant in which, from Montesquieu at kilometre 14, it is possible to continue directly to Cazères at kilometre 26. Check the signage and current conditions before setting off.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Gaudens, Binos, Roquettes, Sajas, Gagnac-Sur-Garonne, Sainte-Foy-Dʼaigrefeuille, Beaupuy, Le Fousseret

Go to the regional travel overview: Haute-Garonne.