Lectoure
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Lectoure | |
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.png) Coat of arms | |
Location of Lectoure  | |
  Lectoure  Lectoure | |
| Coordinates: 43°56′07″N 0°37′19″E / 43.9353°N 0.6219°E | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Occitania |
| Department | Gers |
| Arrondissement | Condom |
| Canton | Lectoure-Lomagne |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2008–2014) | Gérard Duclos |
| Area 1 | 84.93 km2 (32.79 sq mi) |
| Population (2008) | 3,746 |
| • Density | 44/km2 (110/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 32208 /32700 |
| Elevation | 68–223 m (223–732 ft) (avg. 182 m or 597 ft) |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
Lectoure (French pronunciation: [lɛktuʀ]; Occitan: Leitora [lejˈtuɾɔ]) is a commune in the Gers department in the Occitanie region in southwestern France.
It is located 32 km (20 mi) north of Auch, the capital of the department, 30 km (19 mi) south of Agen and approximately 76 km (47 mi) northwest of Toulouse.
Geography
The village is located on the right bank of the Gers, which flows north through the western part of the commune. The river Auroue forms part of the commune's southeastern and northeastern borders.
History
Lectoure was a prehistoric oppidum, capital of Lactorates. Barbarian invasions forced residents to raise the walls and make Lectoure a stronghold for centuries. The town became the capital city of the Earldom of Armagnac, ruled by a powerful family descended from the ancient Dukes of Gascony, who held court at Lectoure. Enemies of the French crown under many pretexts, allies of the English, plotters and traitors, the Armagnacs were eventually eliminated by King Louis XI and the city was largely destroyed.[citation needed]
Population
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 3,908 | — |
| 1968 | 3,950 | +1.1% |
| 1975 | 3,790 | −4.1% |
| 1982 | 3,923 | +3.5% |
| 1990 | 4,034 | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 3,933 | −2.5% |
| 2008 | 3,746 | −4.8% |
Sites of interest
Lectoure has been designated as a "town of art and history" (French: Villes et Pays d'Art et d'Histoire) by the French Ministry of Culture and Communication since 1985. The town hall was built between 1676 and 1682 by bishop Hugues de Bar.
Way of St. James
Lectoure is a town on the Via Podiensis, one of the three major French arms of the Way of St. James. This route is followed by those making the pilgrimage from Le Puy by way of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago de Compostella in northwest Spain. Pilgrims arrive at Lectoure after Miradoux and next pass through Marsolan and La Romieu.
Cuisine
Locally produced Armagnac and foie gras are available and popular delicacies.
Notable people
- Pierre Charron
- Pierre Feuga, writer, translator
- Pey de Garros
- Joseph Lagrange
- Jean Lannes
- Paul Noël Lasseran
- Antoine de Roquelaure
- Aurélie Soubiran, Princess Ghika (1820–1904), writer.
See also
References
External links
- Official website
- Lectoure on the map of France
- Via Podiensis Map
- The Way of St. James French website
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