Castelnau-d’Auzan
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Castelnau-d'Auzan (; Gascon: ''Castèthnau d'Eusan'') is a former commune in the
Gers Gers (; or , ) is a departments of France, department in the regions of France, region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitania, Southwestern France. Gers is bordered by the departments of Hautes-Pyrénées and Pyrénées-Atlantiques to ...
department in southwestern
France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
. On 1 January 2016, it was merged into the new commune Castelnau-d'Auzan-Labarrère.Arrêté préfectoral
8 December 2015


Geography

A picturesque little village on the river Gélise on a crossing of roads, east of the city of
Condom A condom is a sheath-shaped Barrier contraception, barrier device used during sexual intercourse to reduce the probability of pregnancy or a Sexually transmitted disease, sexually transmitted infection (STI). There are both external condo ...
in the Gers bounding the departments
Lot-et-Garonne Lot-et-Garonne (, ) is a department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of Southwestern France. Named after the rivers Lot and Garonne, it had a population of 331,271 in 2019.Landes. It benefits of a privileged situation on the fringe the
Landes forest The Landes forest (; La forêt des Landes in French) in the Landes de Gascogne (las Lanas de Gasconha in the Gascon language), in the historic Gascony natural region of southwestern France now known as Aquitaine, is the largest man-made woodlan ...
in the middle of an agreeable and fertile region. The village lies on the water parting between the Gélise and the Izaute and occupies the emplacement of an ancient castle. The geographical situation is agreeable: the
Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, with an area of about . It covers approximately 17% of Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the Age of Discovery, it was known for se ...
coast on one side and on the other side the ski resorts of the south of France are by car only a distance of 145 km (2 h 15 min).


History

The name ''Castelnau d'Auzan'' means: "Château Neuf in the land of Éauzan". The castle disappeared, but here and there in the village some remains are still visible.


Sights

* Town hall. * The arena for the
course Landaise The ''course landaise'' is an ancient form of bullfighting and bull-leaping held in oval or rectangular arenas covered in sand, that involves no bloodshed. Experienced cows, with large horns, aged generally from 2 to 14 years old, are used inste ...
. * Leisure area and its lake. * Old Armagnac caves. * Église Sainte Marie-Madeleine: ** In the centre of Castelnau, a neo Gothic church from the nineteenth century. * Église Saint Jean de Béziey: ** A country side church from the eleventh century, well known by its miraculous source believed to cure illnesses of the eyes. * Église Saint Martin d'Arèch: ** From the fifteenth century with a particular cylindrical bell-tower. * Église de Rieupeyroux: ** A church in the countryside in the centre of Houeillères with a particular forged iron cross. * Notre-Dame de Pibèque: ** A regional pilgrimage centre with a miraculous source. The splendid little church is a jewel and dates from the fifteenth century.


Population

The inhabitants are called ''Auzanais''. Like in other
communes A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to: Administrative-territorial entities * Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township ** Communes of ...
in
rural In general, a rural area or a countryside is a geographic area that is located outside towns and cities. Typical rural areas have a low population density and small settlements. Agricultural areas and areas with forestry are typically desc ...
France the canton had a decrease of population. In 1962, the canton had 5938 citizens. In 1999, there were only 4741, which represents a decrease of 20%. This decrease is still continuing. This phenomenon started, as in many other rural areas during the War of 1914-1918. Many young men did not return home. Lack of manpower changed the once wealthy and healthy pastoral area in a region where the population and wealth both decreased. New immigrants from
Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
and
Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
compensated partly the loss in population. After the independence of
Algeria Algeria, officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered to Algeria–Tunisia border, the northeast by Tunisia; to Algeria–Libya border, the east by Libya; to Alger ...
, the French farmers and winemakers returning to France were encouraged to settle in the Gers. All these waves of immigrants now are completely integrated. Due to the changes in the
rural economics Rural economics is the study of rural economies. Rural economies include both agricultural and non-agricultural industries, so rural economics has broader concerns than agricultural economics which focus more on food systems. Rural development ...
the last decade agricultural land and farms were put on the market and sold to newcomers from the north of Europe, looking for an active countryside way of life. Gradually immigration changed, nowadays retired people from the north European urban areas come to the Gers in search of idyllic homes for their retirement.


Features

Castelnau-d'Auzan is surrounded by
vineyard A vineyard ( , ) is a plantation of grape-bearing vines. Many vineyards exist for winemaking; others for the production of raisins, table grapes, and non-alcoholic grape juice. The science, practice and study of vineyard production is kno ...
s, smoothly undulating hills and here and there a nice little village. The setting and ambiance are perfect for promenades by foot or by bicycle, or a little play of
golf Golf is a club-and-ball sport in which players use various Golf club, clubs to hit a Golf ball, ball into a series of holes on a golf course, course in as few strokes as possible. Golf, unlike most ball games, cannot and does not use a standa ...
on the splendid Golf de Guinlet, which is on five minutes distance of the village. Because of its landscapes the Gers is now and then called the "
Tuscany Tuscany ( ; ) is a Regions of Italy, region in central Italy with an area of about and a population of 3,660,834 inhabitants as of 2025. The capital city is Florence. Tuscany is known for its landscapes, history, artistic legacy, and its in ...
of France". The summers are long and warm; the winters are warm and short. In the neighborhood are numerous old castles, little medieval walled villages, small cities built around castles and "sacred" places, because the Way of St. James of Compostela and the
Via Podiensis The Via Podiensis or the Le Puy Route is one of the four routes through France on the pilgrimage to the tomb of James, son of Zebedee, St. James the Great in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia (Spain), Galicia in northwest Spain. It leaves from Le-P ...
are going through the Gers and left their traces. Close to the "place de la Mairie" with the pretty town hall you will find the oldest street of Castelnau the "rue du Canon". This spot survived everything, invasions, wars and whatever it dates from the fifteenth century.


Tourism and culture

Local associations develop numerous activities which make it possible to share the local passion for: the nature, good walking bicycling routes, traditional skittle and ball games ''quilles au maillet'') and ''palet gascon''; courses Landaises a daring and innocent game with wild cows; old fashioned battue hunting; local feasts; and gastronomy. The leisure area offers during the summer holidays the children collective and individual games, trips in to the nature and theme days. The leisure area offers a wide range of amusement in a splendid green neighbourhood with swimming pool, children's pool and game zone, two tennis courts, a beach volleyball court, a fitness circuit, a fishing lake of 3 hectares, pick-nick places and perfect walking and bicycle routes. Castelnau d'Auzan is today a perfect place to be for a short or longer time. A lot of healthy occupations are possible, cultural and gastronomic trips and you simply can take a rest. The visit card of the region: a fine glass of
Côtes de Gascogne Côtes de Gascogne is a wine-growing district in Gascony producing principally white wine. It is mainly located in the Departments of France, département of the Gers in the former Midi-Pyrénées region (now part of the Occitanie region), and i ...
, Saint-Mont or
Madiran Madiran () is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France. It is the centre of a wine-producing area. Madiran wine Wine is produced around Madiran under three '' Appellations d'Origine Contrôlées'' (AOCs): Madir ...
or if you like a
Floc de Gascogne The Floc de Gascogne is a regional apéritif from the Côtes de Gascogne and Armagnac (province), Armagnac regions of South West France (wine region), Sud-Ouest wine region of France. It is a ''vin de liqueur'' Fortified wine, fortified with Arm ...
and a good conversation. With measure it also nice to consume a glass
Armagnac Armagnac (, ) is a distinctive kind of brandy produced in the Armagnac (region), Armagnac region in Gascony, southwest France. It is distilled from wine usually made from a blend of grapes including Baco 22A, Colombard, Folle blanche and Ugni ...
, a good
cassoulet Cassoulet (, also ,; ) is a rich stew originating in southern France. The food writer Elizabeth David described it as "that sumptuous amalgamation of haricot beans, sausage, pork, mutton and preserved goose, aromatically spiced with garlic and h ...
, a typical ''confit de canard'' or a small piece of
foie gras ; (, ) is a specialty food product made of the liver of a Domestic duck, duck or Domestic goose, goose. According to French law, ''foie gras'' is defined as the liver of a duck or goose fattened by ''gavage'' (force feeding). ''Foie gras'' i ...
. There are 2 campsites - the small, quie
Domaine Le Poteau
which won French campsite of the year in 2021 and a municipal site.


Events

* Easter Monday: attic, antique and garage sale with course Landaise. * The before last weekend of July: local feasts with village dinners in the open air, attic sales and time-honoured skittle and ball games * First weekend of August: feast in Arèch with open air dinner and ball and numerous attractions. * Third weekend of August: feast in Houeillères with open air dinner and ball and numerous attractions.


Personalities

* Joseph Nicolas Barbeau Barran was a delegate in the
National Convention The National Convention () was the constituent assembly of the Kingdom of France for one day and the French First Republic for its first three years during the French Revolution, following the two-year National Constituent Assembly and the ...
and the Chambre des Cent Jours, born in Castelnau-d'Auzan in 1761, he died in 1816 in Switzerland. At the trial of
Louis XVI Louis XVI (Louis-Auguste; ; 23 August 1754 – 21 January 1793) was the last king of France before the fall of the monarchy during the French Revolution. The son of Louis, Dauphin of France (1729–1765), Louis, Dauphin of France (son and heir- ...
he voted guilty and for the death penalty. He was President of the
Jacobin Club The Society of the Friends of the Constitution (), renamed the Society of the Jacobins, Friends of Freedom and Equality () after 1792 and commonly known as the Jacobin Club () or simply the Jacobins (; ), was the most influential List of polit ...
and an antagonist of
Robespierre Maximilien François Marie Isidore de Robespierre (; ; 6 May 1758 – 28 July 1794) was a French lawyer and statesman, widely recognised as one of the most influential and controversial figures of the French Revolution. Robespierre fer ...
. At the second Restoration in 1816 he was, because of the assassination of the king, condemned to exile and he went to Switzerland. * General Henri de Mibielle was born in Castelnau d'Auzan in 1841, died in 1910; his tomb is on the cemetery of Béziey.


Transportation

The village can easily be reached by car or train. Nearby rail stations are:
Mont-de-Marsan Mont-de-Marsan (; Gascon dialect, Occitan: ''Lo Mont de Marçan'') is a communes of France, commune and capital of the Landes (department), Landes Departments of France, department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, southwestern France. Population Milit ...
(55 km - 1h00m),
Agen Agen (, , ) is the prefecture of the Lot-et-Garonne department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Southwestern France. It lies on the river Garonne, southeast of Bordeaux. In 2021, the commune had a population of 32,485. Geography The city of Agen l ...
(65 km - 1h05m) and
Auch Auch (; ) is a Communes of France, commune in southwestern France. Located in the Regions of France, region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitanie, it is the capital of the Gers Departments of France, department. Geography Localiza ...
(70 km - 1h05m). Three airports are in the neighbourhood:
Toulouse Toulouse (, ; ; ) is a city in southern France, the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Haute-Garonne department and of the Occitania (administrative region), Occitania region. The city is on the banks of the Garonne, River Garonne, from ...
(140 km - 2h10m),
Bordeaux Bordeaux ( ; ; Gascon language, Gascon ; ) is a city on the river Garonne in the Gironde Departments of France, department, southwestern France. A port city, it is the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, as well as the Prefectures in F ...
(150 km -1h50m) and Pau (100 km - 1h40m).


See also

*
Communes of the Gers department The following is a list of the 458 communes of the Gers department of France. The communes cooperate in the following intercommunalities (as of 2025):


References


External links


Armagnac Baron de Sigognac


{{DEFAULTSORT:Castelnau-D'auzan Castelnaudauzan Populated places disestablished in 2016