This past weekend, I decided to go to Nérac, another small town in the Lot-et-Garonne department. The weather was a little dreary, but it was still a quaint and charming village that I enjoyed my time in. Nérac is an ideal getaway if you are looking for a hilly town, full of castles and mills, and a taste of the Aquitaine way of life.
One of the main attractions that Nérac is known for is its fresh food market, so this was my first stop on Saturday morning.
One of the traditional foods I saw at this market were Pied de Cochon, pig's feet. However, I wasn't brave enough to try this food, like I did with les escargots.
One of the main churches in Nérac is the Église Saint-Nicolas. Here are photos of the exterior and the interior of the church:
This large church was built in the 18th century. It has a baroque style facade and the inside is decorated with wall paintings and stained-glass windows which were added to the church around the middle of the 19th century.
Nearby the church is the Château de Nérac. Only the Renaissance wing remains of the castle, however it is still quite impressive with its decorative columns and arcaded balcony running along the first floor level. The castle now houses a museum tracing the history of the Albret region and holds archaeological finds and an exhibition about the history of the Albret family, one of the most powerful families in Aquitaine.
Nérac sits along the Baïse River. In the distance, you can see the other main church, Eglise Notre-Dame in the modern town known as Le Petit Nérac, Little Nérac. The old town and the castle quarter are on the other side of the Pont Vieux, Old Bridge.
There are a number of good restaurants in Nérac -- the one I went to is called L'Escadron Volant. I ate their fish of the day: salmon between mashed potatoes surrounded by a delicious pesto sauce.
I went to mass at Eglise Notre-Dame on Sunday. This is what the interior of the church looks like.
I also walked in the Parc de la Garenne on Sunday. Once a royal hunting ground, this is now a very pleasant place to stroll, and there are a number of important fountains and pavilions in the park.
Parc Royal de la Garenne
Fleurette fountain is one of the notable fountains in the park. Legend says that a young girl, Fleurette, who lived in town, had a romantic outing with future king Henri IV. When the king left her, she drowned in despair in the river Baïse.
I was with my lovely friend, Lucy, the entire weekend.
Comments