In the south-west corner of France, midway between Toulouse and Bordeaux. 2 hours to the Atlantic coast and the Pyrenees, 3 hours to the Mediterranean. It is an area full of unspoilt villages and bastide towns, rivers and the canal latéral de la Garonne (part of the canal du Midi), up which the few remaining working barges still sail. The views are expansive and comprise rolling hills and valleys
of agricultural land. Much of the produce grown is well known in France - prunes of Agen, tomatoes and strawberries of Marmande, Armagnac brandy, apples, pears, kiwis and cherries. It is also a prolific wine growing area with Duras and Buzet being the most well known. On the foody front, the most recognisable of the region is duck in its many forms such as foie gras, magret and gésiers. As you travel around you can't help passing duck farms that sell these products directly. Quite likely next to a vineyard selling their wine. There are many chateaux in the Lot-et-Garonne including Duras, Monbazillac, Biron, Lauzun, Lamothe, Scandaillac and Nerac, to name but a few. Medieval towns many of them bastides (of which there are 20) are to be found including Miramont de Guyenne, Eymet, Castillones, Monflanquin and Villereal. It is an exhilarating area for walking and cycling with much of the department marked out for ramblers and cyclists along paths where you'll meet hardly a soul. All year round there are morning markets in many towns and villages. The perfect place to meet friends or to just people watch over a coffee or something stronger.. During the summer months, many of these towns hold lunch time and evening producers' markets, where food and drink is consumed in a convivial environment. The château at Duras, for example, plays host to opera, classical concerts and the occasional rock concert. There are the producers' markets, wine fairs, antique fairs, village fetes and the "vide greniers" â France's wonderful alternative to the car boot sale - a must for anybody.
