The Monday market and the leisure area with its lake give Samatan two distinct reasons to visit; historic buildings add another dimension. If you want to plan around the market, Monday morning is the key time. For the rest of your stay, you can consider whether outdoor activities or architectural history better match your interests. This helps you decide which facets of the town you would like to discover when choosing where to stay.
Monday market and local produce
Samatan’s market takes place every Monday morning and includes more than 200 travelling traders as well as 80 local craftspeople and producers. The Marché au gras de Samatan focuses on whole fresh goose and duck foie gras, sold directly by the producers. Around the poultry hall, 20 to 40 vendors at the Marché des Petits Producteurs also sell fruit, vegetables and garden produce directly. Samatan’s live poultry hall has also been open every Monday since 1964. The markets differ in their focus: the Marché au gras is about foie gras, the Marché des Petits Producteurs about garden produce, while the poultry hall is dedicated to live poultry. If you choose Samatan for its markets, Monday morning is the key point to plan around.
Leisure area with a lake
Samatan’s leisure area covers around 16 hectares and includes a 9-hectare lake. Facilities include a fitness trail, a pump track, a mini-golf course, a fishing trail and several picnic tables. There are also opportunities for hiking, Nordic walking, canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding and cycling with electric assistance. You can sort the options by activity type: hiking, Nordic walking and cycling are land-based options, while canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding make use of the lake. Mini-golf, fishing and picnic tables complement these active pursuits with other ways to spend time in the area. This lets you decide in advance whether you are more interested in paths and trails, water activities or individual facilities.
Fountain and church
The buildings offer distinct historical and architectural features. The Fontaine de Samatan was built in 1843 as a horse trough; the neoclassical fountain has been listed as a historic monument since 1998. The Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste dates from 1890, is Gothic Revival in style and is adorned with 28 statues of saints. The fountain is notable for its former function and listed status, while the church stands out for its date, Gothic Revival style and decoration. If architectural history is one of your selection criteria, these two buildings offer clearly distinct themes for your stay.
Cycle path and getting around
The Lombez-Samatan cycle path connects the sports facilities and the leisure area at Lac de Samatan. It allows residents of Lombez and Samatan to reach Samatan’s large Monday market without a car. In Samatan, a 1,000-metre stretch of the cycle path runs alongside the leisure area; this section has a compacted surface and street lighting. The stated length refers to this section, not the entire cycle path. The route can therefore be understood both in terms of its connection to the market for residents of both towns and the specifically described section in Samatan.
Discover more destinations: Gazax-et-Baccarisse, Maignaut-Tauzia, Saint-Jean-Poutge, Ayguetinte, Leboulin, Lias, Valence-Sur-Baïse, Miélan.
For the regional travel overview: Gers.
