Armagnac,

the oldest eau-de-vie in France

White varieties: ugni-blanc, folle-blanche, baco 22A and colombar and, to a lesser extent, old traditional varieties such as clairette de Gascogne, jurançon blanc, mauzac, (...) 0 offer(s)

You are here: Armagnac

North-east of Mont-de-Marsan, Les Landes d’Armagnac are the Bas-Armagnac part of the appellation, while the neighbouring Lot-et-Garonne area produces Armagnac Ténarèze (Haut-Armagnac is to be found in the Gers). This land upholds winegrowing, culinary and festive traditions that are bound to appeal to you.

Labastide-d’Armagnac, aptly named

A village founded in 1291, Labastide d’Armagnac is not only one of those villages from the Middle Ages with its characteristic layout and central square, but also the home of the Armagnac Eco-Museum. At Château Garreau, the winegrower’s museum, the pot-still museum, the bottle exhibition and the nature trail all tell the story of this ancestral culture. "Ancestral" is no exaggeration: there is a reproduction of the oldest known distillation equipment: 3500 BC!

The pot-still at Domaine d’Ognoas

At other estates you can see these beautiful, strange machines known as pot-stills. Domaine d’Ognoas in Arthez-d’Armagnac is open to the public, and you can visit the distillery and the cellars. You can even stay there: two gîtes with Gîtes de France accreditation are there for a complete immersion holiday!

From castle to arena

As well as wine estates with their typcial architecture, the region has a rich variety of places to visit: the village of Roquefort, where pilgrims stopped on their way to Compostela; Saint-Justin and its Fondat Castle; Ravignan Castle in Perquie; Moncaut springs; the arenas of Gabarret and Villeneuve-de-Marsan, where there is also a remarkable green theatre, the site of some great performances. And of course Notre-Dame-des-Cyclistes near Labastide-d’Armagnac, an 11th-century Romanesque chapel which since 1959 has been dedicated to cycling.

Leisure

Talking of which, you can easily cycle along the Green Route, also used by walkers and horse riders, between Villeneuve-de-Marsan and Gabarret. Mauvezin-d’Armagnac is well worth a stop-off. If canoeing is your thing, the descent from Roquefort among the limestone rocks is a real treat. And there are also lakes and lagoons with protected plant and animal life.

Keeping warm in winter…

In this wine area, the harvests take place in October. Labastide-d’Armagnac celebrates its eau-de-vie at the end of October each year, while in Mézin celebrations are held on the first weekend in November. From mid October to February, the Flame of Armagnac burns while the wines are distilled. This is the ideal time to visit the estates, with sensory memories guaranteed.

Oenopacks	Hear it first	Oenopacks
On donkey-back! An original trip in the Basque Country	That’s enough theory, now it’s time for practice From harvesting to blending…	UNESCO Grands Crus Bordeaux and Saint-Emilion
See this offer	See this activity	See this offer