Courrensan offers several ways to make the most of a stay: the village’s history, its position above the Lauzoue, distinctive architectural features, and relaxation at Lac de Peche. For time outdoors, organised walks and the chance to relax by the lake are two different options. You can focus more on the village and its architecture or on the landscape and being active.

Location and Village Layout

Courrensan lies on the tip of a rocky outcrop, overlooking the Lauzoue stream to the west and south and a tributary on its right bank to the north. A main street running east to west leads from the church to the château and continues along the same axis through the faubourg. This provides two points of reference: the waterways in relation to the cardinal directions and the street as an east–west axis through the village.

Village History and the Château de Courrensan

Courrensan appears to have developed around a fortified house in the 12th century. At the end of the 13th century or the beginning of the 14th, the village was extended by a suburb located to the east, in front of the fortification wall. Documents from the 17th century call this suburb “la bastide.”

The Château de Courrensan dates partly from the 13th century and was extensively remodelled in the 15th and 16th centuries. The oldest section consists of a large square tower and a small central tower with a spiral staircase; both date from the 13th century. The perimeter wall is flanked at the corners by four hexagonal towers and a square tower that serves as the keep. The different shapes and functions give the château a clearly defined architectural layout. At the same time, its oldest sections and later alterations represent different phases of construction.

The Église Sainte-Madeleine

A chapel founded in 1555 and dedicated to Mary Magdalene is an early historical reference point for the Église Sainte-Madeleine. By around 1673, the church already held parish status; Saint-Martial was then its daughter church. Extensive renovation work was carried out at the Église Sainte-Madeleine from 1884 to 1888. The timeline therefore runs from the chapel’s foundation, through the church’s parish status at the time, to later building work.

Relax by the Lake and Join Organised Walks

Lac de Peche de Courrensan offers a place to relax, as well as picnic tables. As facilities may change, check the current conditions before your visit. Walks are organised in Courrensan several times a year, offering unusual perspectives on the village and its surroundings. The lake and the walks offer different experiences: relaxation and the option of a picnic on the one hand, and exercise and fresh perspectives on the village and its surroundings on the other. If you plan to join a walk on a specific date, check the dates in advance.

Discover more destinations: Pavie, Lias, Pouydraguin, Ladevèze-Rivière, Estipouy, Saint-Mont, Nizas, Condom

Return to the regional travel guide: Gers.