Our Area

The Canal Latéral à la Garonne is part of the Canal du Midi system, linking the Atlantic at Bordeaux with the Mediterranean at Sète. It offers shady towpath walking with the added bonus of seeing kingfishers or the elusive coypu that live along the banks. Canoe, kayak and aviron hire as well as regular canal cruises in the summer months, are available at Pont des Sables 2km from Maoutens.

The sights and smells of the Strawberry and Flower Fete in Marmande is a memory I shall cherish for a long time to come. J McMillan, Inverness

The nearby busy market town of Marmande is famed for its 'pomme d'amour', the Marmande variety of tomato. Local producers sell a wonderful variety of fresh fruit, vegetables, flowers, local cheeses, meats and honey with markets being held three times weekly. The largest market day is Saturday where stalls with leather goods, clothes and many other items spread from the Place du Marché throughout the town. Different events are held through the year; the May Flower and Strawberry Féte, night markets in the summer months and the Féte de Tomate in August. Marmande has a wide range of shops and many restaurants and brasseries where the weary shopper can take their ease and enjoy a glass of wine or sample the local specialities.

Côtes du Marmandais wines have caves at Beaupuy and Cocumont where you can sample the wines of the area and learn a little of viticulture on the banks of the Garonne.

The Lac du Clarens, 15 minutes from Maoutens by car, offers supervised swimming in safe areas as well as pedalo hire and a long stretch of sandy beach where you can improve your suntan. The lakeside café sells refreshments on a shaded terrace.

The Mansons are able to offer an experience of rural France which more commercial businesses simply cannot provide. We found their advice invaluable in exploring this beautiful area and will definitely be back for more. Dr & Mrs Richmond, Aberdeen

There are many beautiful towns and villages to discover in Lot et Garonne. Duras with its château gives panoramic views across the Dropt valley; Nérac, famed for one of Henri IV's châteaux and situated on the river Baïse, offers boat trips into the magnificent surrounding area; Le Mas d'Agenais is a roman bastide town and shelters one of a series of paintings by Rembrandt in its church; Le Temple sur Lot is the site of the Latour-Marliac water lily nursery and garden, which supplied the plants for Monet to create his own garden at Giverny and inspired his famous Water Lily series.

Whether you prefer to tour the area by car, bike, horseback or on foot, Fiona can advise you according to your interests and you will find that the relatively undiscovered area of Lot et Garonne has something for everyone.