Sports and Recreation

Around Montesquiou

  • Walks – the hilly countryside surrounding Montesquiou, with its labyrinth of small roads, is perfect for walks, short and long. The pilgrim’s path to St. Jacques de Compostelle passes through Montesquiou.  You can easily walk parts of this famous route.
  • Golf – there is a beautiful, wooded 18-hole course at Eauze, which is the best in the area. There is also a 9-hole course at Fleurance and another (hilly) 18-hole course at Auch (superb restaurant). Further afield (about 1 hrs drive) is Mont de Marsan – a fabulous course and not expensive during the week. Log on to www.golf-montdemarsan.org for more details.
  • Tennis – there are tennis courts in Montesquiou 5 min walk from home, where you can reserve time with a small family membership fee.
  • Swimming and surfing – there are swimming lakes nearby, but the area is not famous for its beaches.   Atlantic beaches of Biarritz are within a day trip. Biarritz is also one of the best surfing places in Europe.
  • Boat trips – from the town of Condom, you can travel to Valence each afternoon, with a special lunch excursion on Sundays in the summer season (Condom is a beautiful town centred around the Cathedral of St-Pierre and although its name is often a source of amusement to English-speaking visitors, it is believed to be derived from two Latin words “condate” and “dum”, meaning confluence and hill respectively).
  • Kayaking and fishing – river kayaking is available in nearby town of Mirande.  Keen anglers will find ideal spots alongside the banks of the Osse (the small river at the foot of Montesquiou), at Lake Bassoues or at Lake La Baradée. Fishing map and the license can be purchased in Montesquiou and fishing lessons with a master angler are organized from Montesquiou’s  hotel Chateau le Haget. http://www.kasteel-camping.com/
  • Horseback riding and pony club for children – inquire at the Chateau le Haget.
  • Cycling – France is a cycling nation and a home of the formidable Tour de France, the world most prestigious bicycle race. A recreational cycling route ‘Bastides in the Gers’ takes you through some of the most beautiful bastides in Gascony. This 40 km route is just north of Montesquiou around the town of Montreal.
  • Mountain biking – apart from cycling in the hilly countryside,  there are challenging  mountain biking opportunities within 1.5 hours drive from Montesquiou; most notably the Pyrénées route that follows  the most difficult part of the Tour de France.  Tourist offices have list of bike rental companies, and some bike shops rent them out for between €10-20 a day. For serious bikers aiming at longer trips, there is a company that deliver bikes to your door from their bases in the Pyrénées and collects them at the end of the trip.  Check http://www.veloloco.com/bike-rental/bike-hire.php
  • Hiking – a plethora of hiking trails in the Pyrénées provide opportunities for short and long hikes in beautiful scenery. The favorite, if overcrowded, hiking destination is Cirque de Gavarnie in the Pyrénées National Park. No permits are needed for hiking, and crowds can be easily avoided by venturing away from the popular destinations. One of the rewards after the exhausting hike could be excellent magret de canard in one of the small restaurants at the foothills.
  • Paragliding  – Chateau de Peyrepertuse, the gliding capital of the south of France, can be experienced as a day trip from Montesquiou, and it is a magnificent sight by itself.