Sainte-Quitterie Church in Laspeyres

Located in the commune of Fourcès, this pre-Romanesque church was dependent on the Benedictine monastery of Romboeuf, which became a Cluniac priory of the Abbey of Saint-Mont in 1068.

Immerse yourself in a unique journey to the heart of the Armagnac-Gascogne vineyards with the "Armagnac Confidentiel" interpretive program. Amidst rolling landscapes and hidden chapels, step inside the wineries we've selected for you and meet passionate men and women. Pick up the "Armagnac Confidentiel" guide at your local Tourist Office and discover the treasures that make our vineyards an exceptional terroir. Explore the Armagnac region like never before, tasting Floc de Gascogne, a light and fruity aperitif; Côtes de Gascogne wines with their freshness and citrus notes; and Armagnac, the iconic "Virtuous Spirit," the oldest brandy in France.

Secrets of stones
In the Middle Ages, the Fourcès region was densely populated and boasted twelve parish churches, including that of Laspeyres, situated on a site that still bears traces of the Templars' presence in the 12th century. Queen Marie Leszczynska, wife of Louis XV, of Polish origin, traveling the pilgrimage route to Vézelay, is said to have stopped at the Romboeuf monastery around 1750. According to Gascon traditions, the eight "twin" sisters of the martyred saint Quitterie were Bazeille, Dode, Gemme, Mère, Germane, Livrade, Marcienne, and Victoire. Most of these saints were venerated in southern France, and their names are frequently borne by towns and villages.

The spirit of the place
"Hamlet after hamlet, the countryside weaves a web of paths that leap from hill to valley, crisscrossing it in every direction. Everything is varied, and behind the uniformity of the landscape, one is surprised from one place to the next by the changes in soil and crops, and the abundance of heritage and architecture: farmhouses and estates, fortified halls, monastic barns, and inexhaustible springs. We are on the edge of this stony Gascony, one foot in the proud Albret region, while a few kilometers away, the Landes triangle is withering its pine forest. From this hamlet, seemingly oblivious to time, it continues its course at different speeds: small houses, a typical presbytery, rugged stones, the church rejuvenated and its porch, but still from that era. Only the immense cypress rising from the cemetery seems ageless." - Bruno Sirven, Arbre & Paysage 32.

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Discover the nearby circular village of Fourcès, a former fortified settlement with a medieval, theatrical setting. Step inside its inns and wine cellars, and stroll around its flower-shaped pond, an evocative emblem of the village. The flower, "Lou Floc" in Occitan, is also the name of a sweet and sensual aperitif made according to a traditional 16th-century recipe.

Theme(s) : religious heritage, church.