In Eauze, Gallo-Roman history, a medieval town centre and a cycling route through the hills of Armagnac come together. The Domus de Cieutat and the Musée Archéologique Le Trésor d’Eauze offer different perspectives on antiquity; Saint-Luperc tells the story of the town’s later architectural history. Those planning a cycling trip will also find a specific route option.
Gallo-Roman traces in Eauze
The Domus de Cieutat is a 2,700 m² Gallo-Roman townhouse. The areas described include reception rooms, a small bathing area, and heating and water drainage systems. Together, these elements give an impression of the varied layout of the complex: alongside the representative rooms were technical facilities for heating and water. In the 3rd century AD, Elusa became the capital of the Roman province of Novempopulania.
ELUSA Capitale Antique is a Gallo-Roman visitor site comprising three associated locations. The Interpretation Centre is housed in the former railway station in Eauze, at the entrance to the Domus archaeological site. Interactive features, including a film with a virtual reconstruction, complement the exhibits. The archaeological site and the interpretation centre therefore have different focuses: one centres on the townhouse, while the other presents its history in an accessible way.
The programme at ELUSA Capitale Antique includes guided tours, creative activities for young visitors, family events, national events, summer evening events and lecture series. As individual events have their own dates, it is advisable to check the programme before your visit.
Saint-Luperc and the historic centre
The church of Saint-Luperc, the former cathedral of Eauze, overlooks the medieval town centre and stands on the site of an earlier Romanesque building. The former cathedral was built between 1463 and 1591. It was destroyed during the Wars of Religion in the 16th century and rebuilt through to the 18th century. Today it is once again a church; a decree dated 4 January 1945 listed it as a protected historic monument.
The furnishings inside also tell of different eras: the church houses paintings and sculptures, mostly from the 19th century, as well as a neo-Gothic organ dating from 1843. In the historic centre, half-timbered houses, remnants of the fortifications, a gate from the former priory and a hospital chapel add to the scene. Those interested in architecture can trace the story from the site of the former Romanesque building through the long construction history of Saint-Luperc to other surviving features of the town centre.
From coin hoard to cycling route
The Musée Archéologique Le Trésor d’Eauze offers another perspective on the past. It displays a Gallo-Roman hoard discovered in Eauze in 1985: more than 28,000 coins and around 50 pieces of jewellery and precious objects. The permanent exhibitions span the period from prehistory to the Merovingian era. This makes the difference in focus clear: the Domus centres on a Gallo-Roman townhouse, while the museum covers a broader chronological sequence. The annual programme includes guided tours, storytelling walks, educational workshops, treasure hunts and introductory archaeology workshops; check the specific dates in advance.
For a cycling trip, the Voie Verte de l’Armagnac starts in Eauze at the roundabout by Leclerc. The section between Cazeneuve and Eauze is 8 km long. The route passes through the hills of Armagnac and offers varied scenery. Check the local signs and route conditions before setting off. The stated section length gives you a specific reference point for planning, without specifying a particular journey time.
You can choose from several distinct themes to shape your trip: Gallo-Roman architecture and finds, the architectural history of Saint-Luperc, or a cycling stage in Armagnac. You can choose Eauze based on which of these perspectives you want to define your trip.
Discover more destinations: Bretagne-d'Armagnac, Samatan, Estipouy, Pouy-Roquelaure, Estramiac, Préneron, Razengues, Nogaro.
See the full travel guide: Gers.
