Days Out From Pêtre

There’s plenty to suit everybody in the region and the only problem is fitting it all in. The Pyrenees are within striking distance as is the Atlantic coast with its long, dune-backed beaches. Closer to home we have golf courses and fishing rivers, riding stables and cooking schools. Nearby there is even a racetrack with 8 meets a year. Traffic jams are a rarity in this part of the world so driving is a pleasure. But why not leave the car behind, borrow our bikes and plan a cycling expedition? There’s nothing better for building up an appetite! We can provide packed lunches or suggest an itinerary that will take you to a village restaurant within easy cycling distance.

For plant lovers - take a day out and go to the Fourcés flower sale in late April for wonderful geraniums and bedding plants; The Rose Festival and arboretum in La Romieu in May; and the Rare Plant sale in Ordan Larroque in October. The Roman mosaics at Montréal du Gers include a fantastic display of Iris in the spring.

For foodies, day trips could include a visit to Bordeaux with a splendid lunch beside the river Garonne, and if you really would like to splash out, a trip to Michel Guerard’s restaurant at Eugenie les Bains. Toulouse, of course has a wide choice of excellent restaurants, ranging from classy French to spicy curries.

Other things that you could do include taking a boat trip along the River Baïse, from Condom to Valence sur Baïse; hire a canoe at Beaucaire sur Baïse, drive to Nerac, a beautiful old town, take a boat ride along the river and have lunch in one of the restaurants on the river bank.

There are a number of Abbeys and Chateaux around - The Cistercienne Abbey de Flarans is 15 minutes away, the fortified village of Larresingle, said to be the smallest in France, is 30 minutes away, and the Chateau at Lavardens is 20 minutes away.

• Horse riding and horseracing - locally
• Motor racing - cars and motorbikes - at Nogaro
• Bull fighting at Vic Fezensac or Eauze
• Sky-walking through the trees near Auch

For those who want to brush up their French or develop the skills to negotiate the local market or feel at home in the local bar, we will be happy to provide conversational French courses pitched at any level from beginner upwards. Classes take place either in the shade of the terrace or “on the hoof” as we negotiate the purchase of the day’s provisions or stock up on wine, armagnac, confit de canard or foie gras in all its permutations. Tuition rates are €20/hour