The Tour d’Hautefage, several churches and routes with varying distances make architecture and landscape the defining themes of Hautefage-la-Tour. When choosing what to do, decide whether you mainly want to explore the architecture or plan a marked route or a treasure hunt.

A residence and churches from different periods

The Tour d’Hautefage was built at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries as a residence for the bishops of Agen: first under Leonardo della Rovere (1487–1519), then under Antonio della Rovere (1519–1538). Its hexagonal floor plan and position above the Notre-Dame church define its distinctive architecture.

The Église Saint-Just is Romanesque and was extended in the 15th century. During the Wars of Religion, its bell tower was converted into a defensive tower; since 27 September 1996, the church has been listed as a Monument historique. The Église Saint-Thomas is also a Romanesque building, but it was altered in the 17th and 18th centuries. Notre-Dame was built towards the end of the 15th or beginning of the 16th century over a spring that had been considered miraculous since the Middle Ages.

The history of pilgrimage is also part of the town’s past: from the Middle Ages until the 19th century, Hautefage-la-Tour was a popular pilgrimage destination where solemn processions took place each year.

Hills and valleys in the Pays de Serres

Hautefage-la-Tour lies in the Pays de Serres, a landscape of plateaus cut through by deep valleys. The Tour d’Hautefage stands above a hill between the valleys of the Tancanne, Lestaque and Lajasse. The two churches of Saint-Thomas and Saint-Just also stand on green hillsides. From there, views extend over the Tancanne and Lestaque valleys and the Agen–Périgueux railway line. The buildings and their respective locations therefore offer different ways to take in the landscape.

Choose routes by distance, elevation gain and theme

“Hautefage-la-Tour, la balade de la Malausie” starts in Hautefage-la-Tour. The marked route is 4.9 kilometres long, with an elevation gain of 235 metres. The Tour d’Hautefage is visible from almost every point along the circuit. This route combines a specific distance with recurring views of the distinctive building. Trail conditions may change with maintenance, so check the latest conditions before setting out.

“Héros de plume et d’épée” is a five-kilometre Terra Aventura route in Hautefage-la-Tour, with an estimated duration of two to three hours. The treasure hunt uses a free geocaching format with clues and puzzles. The literary-themed Poï’z Zétoulu guides visitors around the town. This gives the route a different focus from a hike, where distance and elevation gain are the main points of reference.

The “Bonneval, le circuit des trois églises” circuit also starts in Hautefage-la-Tour and is marked with coloured trail markings. It is 10.9 kilometres long, with an elevation gain of 295 metres. In a direct comparison of the figures, Bonneval is six kilometres longer than the Malausie route and has 60 metres more elevation gain. If you are weighing up the two routes using their trail data, you can choose between different distances and elevation gains.

A meal to take away

In the town centre, Pizzeria de la Tour offers a wide selection of takeaway pizzas prepared with fresh produce from local producers. Menus and availability may change; check the details if you would like to include the pizzeria in your plans.

For the wider travel overview: Lot Et Garonne.