Castelnau-Barbarens (Castèthnau-Barbarens in Gascon) is a commune located in the Gers department, in the Occitania region (France). Historically and culturally, the commune is in the Pays d’Auch, a cereal and wine-producing territory which was also constituted as a country in the sense of territorial planning in 2003.
Exposed to an altered oceanic climate, it is drained by the Arrats, the Larroussagnet stream, the Saint-Germier stream and various other small streams. The town has a remarkable natural heritage made up of three natural areas of ecological, fauna and flora interest.
Castelnau-Barbarens is a rural commune which has 562 inhabitants in 2021, after having experienced a population peak of 1,474 inhabitants in 1831. It is part of the Auch catchment area. Its inhabitants are called Castelnausiens or Castelnausiennes.
Main attractions
- Gallo-Roman villa of Taros;
- Sainte-Quitterie-Saint-Nicolas Church of Castelnau-Barbarens. The church was built in 1867 on the site of the castle of the Counts of Astarac. The old watchtower of this castle became the bell tower of the church in 1867.
- Notre-Dame-de-Pitié chapel in Castelnau-Barbarens, which has become a space for artistic exhibitions.
- Chapel of Pépieux.
- Chapel of Saint-Guiraud.
- Château d’En Poucouron was built at the end of the 18th century or at the very beginning of the 19th century for the de Brux family, plantation owners in Santo Domingo. Private property.
- Pépieux Castle. Quadrangular dwelling of medieval origin, heavily remodeled in the 17th and 18th centuries. Private property.
- Château de Saint-Guiraud, a few meters west of the mound which holds the chapel. Private property.
- Castral site of La Tourasse.
- Tucoulet castle mound.
- Château de Villeneuve. Private property.
How to get to?
From Paris: 7 hr 55 min (707 km) via A20
From Toulouse: 1 hr 14 min (78.9 km) via N124
From Andorra: 3 hr 34 min (218 km) via D919
From Barcelona: 4 hr 55 min (470 km) via AP-7 and A61
From Madrid: 7 hr 48 min (651 km) via A-2
From Monaco: 6 hr 26 min (652 km) via A8
From Moscow: 37 hr (3,480 km) via E30/M1
From Belgrade: 19 hr 32 min (1,955 km) via E70
From Istanbul: 29 hr (2,905 km) via E70
From Bern: 8 hr 46 min (910 km) via A9
Main information
Area: 42.37 km2
Population: 562
Coordinates: 43°34′38″N 0°43′29″E
Language: French
Currency: Euro
Visa: Schengen
Time: Central European UTC +1
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