Labastide-d'Armagnac (687 souls), which retains its medieval charm, is certainly one of the most charming villages in the Landes region. Following the marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine to Henry Plantagenet, Gascony became English, and it was in 1291 that Count Bernard VI, Count of Armagnac, obtained authorization from King Edward I of England to found the bastide. Labastide-d'Armagnac is a perfect example of the urban organization of the new towns of the Middle Ages: it has preserved its original structure right down to the smallest architectural and landscaping details (passageways, gardens, etc.). The fortress church, a washhouse, a 14th-century mill and the Château du Prada, completed in 1764 with its vast park, complete the discovery of this Landes site. Its unmissable Place Royale is surrounded by picturesque covered houses with arcades or columns, medieval halles beneath the town hall and ancient half-timbered houses. The square is also magnified by its imposing fortified bell tower. Here, history mingles with the past. A case in point is 9, rue Bataille, where Colette entertained her clientele until she was 93, in France's oldest café, le Tortoré, opened in 1885 by her grandmother. Right next door, on rue du Portail, lived the painter Gérard Vulliamy (1909-2005, Abstraction-Création movement) and his wife Odette Dupeyron, model for the famous sculptor Charles Despiau. Henri IV is said to have been inspired by the village's central square to create the Place des Vosges in Paris. Once you've taken the time to stroll under the arcades, venture out on the Armagnac heritage trails to discover estates and châteaux, where you can taste armagnac, a brandy with an alcohol content of 40% or more. Produced from the distillation of dry white wines vinified from 4 main grape varieties, this spirit, the gold of Gascony, is world-renowned and the source of the region's wealth. To discover the Armagnac cellars, a map of establishments with the "Vignobles et Découvertes" label is available from local tourist offices. Every year, on the last weekend in October, Armagnac en Fête is a rendez-vous for good taste, with Armagnac and local produce tasting on the program. Labastide d'Armagnac has been awarded the Cittaslow label for its quality of life and art of living, which promotes a slower pace of life, far removed from urban frenzy.
