Village of Caussens

The village of Caussens is located near Condom, in Armagnac, in the heart of Ténarèze. It is a beautiful, slender village with an expansive panorama to the north and south.

The origin of the village's name is unknown. It may come from "calx" or "calcès," meaning lime. Indeed, Caussens once had a lime quarry.

During the Hundred Years' War, King Edward I of England had a series of Gascon castles built to protect his town of Condom, including the Château de Caussens. Now destroyed, only vestiges of the ramparts remain. Near the village, at a place called Mons, stands an old 13th-century stronghold, later rebuilt as a castle in the 14th century. Owned by the Chamber of Agriculture, it serves as a site for the conservation and experimentation of grape varieties, as well as for wine production. It was one of the former residences of Marshal Lannes and boasts a magnificent avenue of centuries-old oak trees.

The church in Caussens is built on the foundations of an earlier 14th-century church. The current church, rebuilt in the 19th century, is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Only a few sections of the original walls remain, incorporated into the structure built between 1874 and 1876. The entrance is located to the northwest, beneath a large porch built of large limestone blocks.
The original bell tower of Saint-Gilles has been preserved. It houses a 16th-century spiral staircase and two bells, one of which is dated 1636.

Theme(s) : historical heritage, town/village.