The Bastides
These towns were created by French or English kings and lords and their typical architecture has survived the centuries. They are a highlight of medieval architecture. Bastides are characterized by streets crossing at a right angle and a central square surrounded by arcades. Labastide d’Armagnac and Saint Justin are at the center of the bastide region in Aquitania.
Labastide d’Armagnac was founded by the Earl of Armagnac in 1291. Its “place Royale” (main square) is remarkable. Its design inspired Henri IV when he built the “place des Vosges” in Paris. The town bears witness to the urban organization of the time. It has been exceptionally well preserved in the most minute details, in both architecture and landscape (passageways, gardens …).
In Labastide, the place Royale and the church are national monuments. One can also see a lavoir and a mill, both from the 14th century. The Prada castle, built in 1764 and surrounded by a large park, was declared national monument in 1984. An “Operation Bastides” has allowed Labastide d’Armagnac to complete the “Temple of Bastides” (a museum dedicated to the history of these medieval towns).
Saint-Justin
In 1280, this strategic location, crossed by important highways, was turned into a Bastide by the Viscountess of Marsan and the Knights Hospitaller, without the agreement of the king of England. It has been on the path of numerous wars but was always able to pull through. Today, this welcoming village with the many flowerbeds has been harmoniously restored to express all the charm of its centuries-long history: Arcade-surrounded square, half-timbered houses, romantic manor, ramparts. Lovers of the unusual will enjoy the paved uphill road, the three octagonal towers, and the strange holding cell.
The surrounding neighborhoods also have a lot to offer: churches that are national monuments, the Fondat castle, with its park offering rare species of trees, pedestrian areas.