|
Explore France Holiday Guides Lot-et-Garonne The Garonne valley
| The Garonne valley |
|
|
| Wednesday, 28 February 2007 | |
|
The broad Garonne valley is dotted with charming canal villages and huge farmhouses with tobacco drying barns, among the tomato fields and vineyards of the Marmandais. Marmande, the tomato capital of the southwest of France, is the third largest town in the département. A turbulent history has taken its toll on older buildings and fortifications – the town goes back to Richard the Lionheart (12th century). It was he who granted the town its charter in 1182. However, little remains of that period, due to the destruction caused by the Hundred Years’ War, the internal Wars of Religion in the 16th century and the French Revolution in the 18th century. What is left of the historic part of the town can be visited on foot, following the itinerary called ‘Découverte du vieux Marmande’. A modern mosaic on the Boulevard Richard Coeur de Lion represents the town from the 7th to the 16th century. Those interested in churches should see Notre-Dame-de-Marmande, with its Gothic façade, historic organ, Baroque reredos and remains of a cloister. Apart from its history, Marmande’s pride and joy is its tomato. Don’t leave without trying some of the region’s famous fruit. There is a statue of a tomato in rue Toupinerie. The town’s activities are not limited to agriculture. High technology is also represented by a factory making – among other things – aircraft components. Marmande’s small airstrip is the venue for an annual international flying display by radio-controlled model aircraft, some of which are up to ten feet long. Tonneins The small town of Tonneins has an attractive position on the north bank ofthe Garonne. You can walk along the river just below the main part of the town, where embankments were created in the 19th century. The only building of real historical interest is the Maison du Passeur (Ferryman’s House), which survived the near-total destruction of the town in 1622. The town was once an important stop for river traffic on the Garonne. At a time when roads were poor, the river was the most reliable means of transport, especially for haulage. For many years, Tonneins was a centre for the tobacco industry. After its introduction in the 16th century, tobacco was grown extensively in the area. In 1726 a manufacture royale (royal factory) was opened here. The building is now a museum dedicated to the river traffic of the past and to the rope-making industry which supported it. |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
