Commune of the Gers, in region Occitanie, Eauze takes place on the Gélise, in the heart of Gascony. Main town of Bas Armagnac, it is about fifty kilometers from Auch, in the most productive and most famous region of Armagnac.
The ancient Elusa, a city of the Aquitanian people of the Elusates, was founded in the 1st century, becoming the capital of the Roman province of Novempopulania in the 3rd century. Destroyed during the High Middle Ages, it reappeared from its ashes in the eleventh century, seeing itself attached to Cluny. The town of Eauze was the home of the future Henri IV and Marguerite de Valois in the 16th century. It was an important Protestant stronghold whose fortifications were destroyed in the 17th century by order of Richelieu.
Mainly known for its agricultural activity and production of Armagnac, the city of Eauze is also a Green Holiday resort appreciated for its historical heritage as well as for its annual cultural events.
Built between the end of the 15th and the beginning of the 16th century, the cathedral Saint Luperc is an immense Gothic building twenty-two meters high. You can admire the beautiful 16th and 19th century stained-glass windows, as well as an organ of great interest. Classified as Historic Monuments, it is partly built with rubble from the ruins of the ancient ancient city of Elusa.
To the east of the city, it is possible to admire the vestiges of the ancient city of Elusa. There are the remains of a domus and surrounding streets. Some of the objects found on site are now on display at the archaeological museum of Eauze. The latter, opened at the end of the XIXth century, reveals four levels recalling in particular the prehistoric era, and sheltering a very nice numismatheque.
Inside the old center of Eauze is revealed a set of medieval houses with beautiful half-timberings. Do not miss the house of Jeanne d'Albret built in the 15th century and home of Henry IV in the 16th century, the house known as the Consuls, the Office of Tourism, or the houses of Rue Robert-Daury and the Rue Rabelais. Built in the 15th century, the castle of Doat also deserves a detour.
There are still some vestiges of the old medieval fortifications destroyed by Richelieu in the seventeenth century.
The cloister of the former priory, rebuilt in the eighteenth century, is still visible in the private college, through a Gothic door arch of the fourteenth century.
On the road to Sauboires, do not miss the small Art Nouveau building of Pyrenean style labeled Fondation du Patrimoine.
Eauze can boast of owning the first modern water tower of France, built on the orders of the Emperor Napoleon III.
The Nimesño II arena, named after a famous French matador, still perpetuates today the bullfighting traditions of southern France. For recreation, the town also has the golf course of Guinlet and the racecourse of the Bergeyre.
The market is held every Thursday morning. A market for flowers and regional products takes place in May. A Christmas market is organized at the end of the year with entertainment.
Every year, in January, the town celebrates the vineyards on the occasion of Saint-Vincent.
An antiques fair takes place every year for the Ascension week. A regional products fair is organized in parallel.
Each first weekend of July, the arenas host the festival of Eauze with in particular the organization of a bullfight.
The Independent Winegrowers 'Festival is held on the third weekend of July, offering a farmers' market and tastings.
On the fourth weekend of July, the Galop Romain festival brings visitors to the city through a variety of shows, a craft market, parades and demonstrations.
The comic book festival is held every first weekend of August.
