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Château Déhès is situated approximately 10 kilometres north east of Condom just off the road to Agen, and outside the village of Gazaupouy.
The temptation to stay put and relax may be too great but you can discover plenty to occupy you within only half an hour of Déhès. For children there is the theme park, Parc Walibi, at Agen. For inexpensive family fun visit the water park, Lud'O Parc at Nerac.
For plant lovers there's an arboretum at La Romieu. The World Heritage Site collegiate church there is not to be missed, nor are the many other walled bastide towns of the area, of which Larresingle is probably the most perfect. You will soon chance upon your own favourite. No need to be a student of architecture or a medieval historian to appreciate them!
There is much to be said for stumbling upon a hidden gem by accident rather than being directed by a guide book or someone else's opinion. However there is a good selection of guides, maps and brochures at the château to point you in the right direction.
Armagnac and the Gascon tipple Floc are made from the region's grapes - visit the local producer in Gazaupouy, and also the Armagnac museum in Condom.
In Lectoure investigate the ancient art of blue dyes made from woad (isatis tinctoria), pastel in French. In Condom take a boat on the Baïse, stroll through the narrow cobbled streets, visit the market and eat very well: the Table des Cordeliers is excellent. For further Michelin starred dining go to Astaffort with its choice of two restaurants. Wherever you are take the chance to eat locally, as this is, in our biased opinion, the best regional cuisine of France.
At the beginning of August, and if your French is up to it, or even if it isn't, the tall story contest at Moncrabeau is quite a spectacle and only 10 minutes drive.
However for a full day out you can reach a wide variety of interesting places within an hour and a half:
To the south is Toulouse. If you are prepared to drive for longer you could get to the fairytale walled town of Carcassonne, or Albi with its stunning red fortified cathedral and Toulouse Lautrec museum.
Go south and you'll be in the Pyrenees.
West and north west for Bordeaux, the pinewoods of the Landes and the sand dunes of the Atlantic coast.
Go towards Agen and across the river Garonne and soon you're in the Dordogne.
And no matter if you never even arrive at your day's destination. The risk of being waylaid by some serendipitous discovery is very high!
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