Escrimis-la-Chapelle
Gascony

near Condom-en-Armagnac

Escrimis@alienor.biz

"The perfect place for a holiday in France
with family and friends."

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Things to do... in the area

Things to do... Sport

Tennis - The household has membership of the Tennis Club de Condom (05 62 28 34 42) on the road to Eauze (8km). Escrimis-la-Chapelle is enrolled for the season for up to 4 players at any one time (any age) from the household.  Just turn up with your rackets and balls and play on any available court (8 hard and clay, one indoor clay and a practice wall) or, if you like, Florian is happy to be booked for coaching or as a hitting partner for adults and children (ask us for his number).

Fun-pool - water-slides etc. at the Aqualudique de Condom (05 62 29 17 48), opposite the Tennis club.  NB: Speedos only not baggy boxer type swimmers.

Golf - Golf de Guinlet, Eauze (32km; 05 62 09 80 84), which has 18 holes, is a beautiful, wooded course that is said to be the best in the area.

Kayaking

• on the Baïse, book a family outing or join a group, departing from Moncrabeau (7km, 10mn) with "Canoe-Kayak du Val d'Albret" (David: 06 80 74 71 08)

• or from Condom with the "Base de loisirs de Gauge" (Alain Durand 05 62 28 45 92)

Cycling - hire from Eric Dulas (05 62 68 46 79 - Eric has a bit of English if needed - or email ericelf@sfr.fr). They have mostly adult bikes and also a few children’s.  We have not yet used them as the chap we used in the past retired last year, but they come recommended as having well-maintained good bikes.  Conveniently for Escrimis they are based on our side of Condom in the ex-“ELAN”-petrol station opposite the railway depot/cooperative as you exit Condom towards Nerac.  Ideally you ride bikes from and back to their shop (check opening hours), but if needed ask about delivery/collection dates/cost as they have access to a van.  You can follow a prepared "cyclo" route.

NB: A curiosity very close to Labastide d'Armagnac on the road from Eauze, is an unusual place mixing popular sport and religious tradition: the small church of Notre Dame des Cyclistes is dedicated to cycling and hung with the shirts of hundreds of Tour de France winners!

Hiking - there are many paths and walks to do around our area thanks to the pilgrimage tradition, namely the route of the "Circuit de Grande Randonnée GR65" which goes through Condom on the way from Lectoure to Eauze. There is a "Promenades" booklet on our library shelf and the local "Maison de la presse" or Office du Tourisme sell maps (e.g.Topo-Guide: "Le Gers à Pied" or Topo-Guide "Le Pays d'Albret -Porte de Gascogne à pied").

Horse riding

• Closest to the house is the new centre équestre in Grazimis.  We have not yet tried it.  The phone number is

• "Centre Equestre du Domaine de Cazettes" was set up in 2007 by Jean-Charles de Cours (06 10 52 37 99) just outside Lavardac (30km/30mn on the road to Montgaillard).  This is a friendly and well-run equestrian centre where our English Pony Club daughter now rides regularly; you can have lessons or go out on hacks according to your level. There are ponies (mostly the local "Landais" breed) and horses for all levels, shapes and sizes.  Tell Jean-Charles you're staying at Escrimis-la-Chapelle and he promised that, if necessary, he will do his best in English!

• Closer to the house is "L'Etrier Condomois" (05 62 28 09 41) just outside Condom on the route de Lectoure.  This place is also a community holiday centre run on a budget so whilst very friendly, if you're used to English horsey standards, it  is a great contrast. Enquire with Gérard or Véronique.

• Lastly, some stables with an English owner: Les Ecuries d'Armagnac (25km/25mn; 05 62 68 15 42) just after Valence-sur-Baïse.

Skiing - in the Pyrénées (2 hours, 150km): Saint Lary Soulan, Peyragudes, La Mongie, and several other resorts.

Tree walking

• For "accrobranche" Cap Cauderoue (05 53 65 52 74 or 06 24 83 95 30) in Barbaste near Agen (26km, 28mn) has four levels of course through the trees: Green (for 3 years+), Blue, Red and Black.  Very well organised with good training and equipment, safety helmets and double safety harnesses for clipping to safety ropes.

• At "Grimper Haut" ropes are temporarily (to respect nature) set up during the summer in some trees of a nearby wood 5km south East of our house.  Run by Dominique (06 87 15 09 89), a very "green" tree surgeon and a youth leader, a day  will be filled with botanical discoveries (tree essences, wood-boring insects,...) as well as climbing up and down the trees like a professional!

Go Carting - at the Fabukart (05 53 87 84 52) 1.2km track near Layrac south of Agen (45km/40mn), from 7 years up you can drive karts in 8mn rounds.  Escrimis-la-Chapelle house lap records are (the young teenage girls really threw down the gauntlet to the boys last summer!):

Quad, Buggy & Paintball - with QuadConcept (05 62 05 19 44) at Loubéjean near Auch (57km/55mn).

Rafting - down Pyrenean rivers. Several companies (one of them Ecolorado 05 62 97 54 54) offer rafting in the foothills near Lourdes (160km, 2h40). Normally several boats make the descent together and a lot of water flies around. Early afternoon departures are the best and take about 2-3 hours.

We have tried to put together as comprehensive a list as possible and we will be adding to it from time to time, but we cannot take any responsibility for this information and suggest that if the activity is a key part of your trip then you should confirm the details with the organisers.  We can give you more information on request and there is also more in the housebook.

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