Saint-Clar is a bastide founded in 1289, overlooking the Arratz Valley amid sunny hills. Narrow medieval lanes, the historic market hall and the Romanesque church shape the town’s cultural heart. At the same time, the chemin de ronde allows visitors to discover the surrounding countryside. If you are looking for a hotel in Saint-Clar, you can first consider whether the historic townscape or additional leisure attractions should be the deciding factor for your stay.
Market Hall and Historic Buildings
The market hall is a 13th-century building listed as a historic monument. Twenty wooden pillars support the hall. The market takes place there on Thursday mornings, so you can combine a visit to the hall with a visit to the market.
The old church and the Musée de l'École publique also offer their own perspectives on the history of Saint-Clar. The old church is Romanesque and dates from the 12th to the 16th century. The museum is housed in the village’s former first school; the building has been converted into a museum trail. The church and the former school highlight different aspects: sacred architectural history and the building’s former use as a school.
The narrow medieval lanes invite you to explore Saint-Clar. The chemin de ronde allows visitors to discover the surrounding countryside. This places the historic townscape and the countryside side by side as distinct interests for a walk.
Lake and Wallaby Walk
For an outing by the water, Es Calavès is 2.5 kilometres from Saint-Clar. The wooded lake covers five hectares and has an area set up for swimming. In July and August, it has a sandy beach, two large slides, outdoor play areas and shaded picnic spots. You can also rent pedal boats at Es Calavès. The lake therefore combines a swimming area with places to play and relax.
The Vallon des Kangourous offers something different: visitors can walk among free-roaming wallabies across four hectares. Free activities for children and adults are offered there, weather permitting. Introductions to boomerangs and didgeridoos start at 5 p.m. Demonstrations about the lives of emus take place at 4 p.m., and those about wallabies at 6 p.m. Since the activities are weather-dependent, it is advisable to check in advance whether they are taking place. Unlike the seasonal swimming and play facilities at the lake, the focus here is on walking among the animals and the weather-dependent programme.
La Maison de l'Ail sells white or purple garlic directly as plaited strings; the selection may change.
Choosing When to Travel
The conditions vary: the market takes place on Thursday mornings; the swimming area, beach, slides, play areas and picnic spots are available in July and August; and activities at the Vallon are weather-dependent. This means that three different timing factors come into play: day of the week, season and weather. You can take these differences into account when choosing when to travel and focus on local history, the countryside or leisure activities.
Discover more destinations: Callian, Castex-d'Armagnac, Monfort, Homps, Ségos, Lussan, Jégun, Maupas
For the main travel overview: Gers.
