Le Mas d'Agenais
The house literally embodies the town’s history. It is part of a dramatic terrace of houses built along the fortifications, a site originally chosen by the Romans as a vantage point to defend the vast Garonne flood plain. The original wall can still be seen in the cellar and the house (originally two houses) was built section by section as safety and resources permitted. Many of the old 18th century beams have clear signs of recycling perhaps from the old chateau which was long ago redistributed.
This town has played a part in most of the major events of French history. It changed hands several times during the crusades but when Eleanor of Aquitaine married the future Henry 11 of England in 1152 it became English where it remained during much of the 100 Years War. It then became French again in 1615 and the walls were rebuilt. It had a few ups and downs during the Revolution, and then settled down it its rural calm that we know today.
There’s plenty to see of the town’s lively past with fortifications, a Roman gateway, and park where the chateau once was. The Halle de Ble is a covered market hall in the centre of the village and the ancient lavoir is so well preserved that Rick Stein washed his smalls there during his recent gastronomic TV series on the Canal du Midi. The Romanesque church rather bizarrely houses a Rembrandt which people come from far and wide to see.