The medieval city of Larressingle, small Carcassonne in the Gers, can be visited all summer

Visiting the medieval town of Larressingle is the perfect opportunity to travel back to the time of castlenaus. Built during the 13th century, its imposing ramparts formed by loopholes and renovated towers surprise many of the tourists encountered. Its almost intact state was made possible by the perseverance of the last duke of Treviso, Edouard Mortier. Seduced by this village, he raised funds in Boston in the United States in 1929. The “Les Amis de Larressingle” association was created in 1990 with the aim of preserving and enlivening this monument.

Surrounded by a so-called “dry” moat, 10 meters wide, the entrance to the village is through the stone bridge. Beyond the tower of the gate and its five menacing trefoil merlons, this verdant village is made up of ancient houses and an underground church dedicated to San Sigismondo.

Built in the 12th century, a second part of the building was built a century later. This difference is essentially perceived in its architectural decorations and in the construction technique of the vaults. Its sumptuous stained glass windows were modeled by the master glassmaker Pierre Rivière of Saint-Jean-de-Verges and the glass painter Gallet de Fanjeaux.

Opposite the church is the castle, also known as the keep, where the abbots and then the bishops of Condom lived successively. Today the building is in ruins with the remains of loopholes and gunports dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries used to protect the village in case of attack.

During the summer, the Ténarèze Tourist Office organizes one-hour guided tours every day at 10am, 3pm and 4.30pm. For families there is also a visit at 11 with activities on life in the Middle Ages. The price is 5 euros per adult and 3 euros for children over 5 years old.