Welcome to the 43rd edition of European Heritage Days, on Saturday, September 19, and Sunday, September 20. The Albret Tourism Office invites you to enjoy its program of events in Albret: guided tours, activities, workshops, exhibitions, and more…
Immerse yourself in the history and heritage of the Albret region during European Heritage Days. From Barbaste to Nérac, via Mézin, Vianne, Xaintrailles, and many other villages, numerous sites are opening their doors for guided tours, fun workshops, and unique discoveries.
These events offer a unique opportunity to discover or rediscover the rich heritage of the Albret region through immersive experiences and fascinating encounters with local residents.
Join our guides Axel and Pierre at the Albret Tourist Offices to explore four distinctive sites: the Moulin des Tours, a medieval fortress unique in France; the royal city of Nérac, home to the lords of Albret and the kings of Navarre; the fortified bastide of Vianne with its 1,250 meters of ramparts; and the medieval town of Mézin, the capital of the cork industry.
Free guided tours (reservation required): Saturday, September 19, and Sunday, September 20, at 3:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Step through the doors of the Moulin des Toursand let yourself be guided into the heart of this spectacular stone giant.
Set out on an exclusive tour of this exceptional monument, which is both a medieval fortress and a former watermill.
As you tour the site, explore the building’s exterior and then its interior spaces, and let yourself be amazed by the ingenuity of its architecture. Towers, defensive structures, mill rooms, and historic technical installations tell the story of several centuries of history.
Once owned by the powerfuld’Albret family, the Moulin des Tours takes you on a true journey through time. Immerse yourself in the world ofthe Middle Ages, discover the transformations and stories associated withHenry IVduring the Renaissance, and then trace its history back to the Industrial Age, when its mechanisms and uses underwent profound changes.
A tour that combines history, architecture, and industrial heritage, offering a glimpse into the many facets of one of the Albret region’s most iconic landmarks.
Free self-guided tours, no reservation required: Saturday, September 19, and Sunday, September 20, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Explore the Moulin des Tours at your own pace with a permanent exhibition that reveals the history and many lives of this impressive fortress-mill. Extend the experience with a 30-minute immersive audio tour and a 7-minute historical reenactment film that takes you back through the centuries. And for young and old alike, traditional wooden games invite you to share a fun moment in the heart of this Historic Monument.
Meet at the Moulin des Tours
, 3 Rue du Moulin des Tours – 47600 NERAC
Free guided tour (reservation required): Sunday, September 20, at 10 a.m.
Starting at the Nérac Tourist Office, you’ll set out to explore the Renaissance royal city of Nérac, the former capital of the Duchy of Albret.
Follow a guide from the Tourist Office, starting at the Nérac Tourist Office, and take a trip back in time through the town’s most iconic sites.
InGarenne Park, in the shade of century-old trees, discover traces of Nérac’s ancient past and learn about the history of this walking path, which is closely linked to the Court of Navarre. The walk continues throughOld Nérac, among historic houses and remnants of the town’s medieval and Renaissance past.
On the banks of theBaïse, the harbor district reveals another side of Nérac:the Pont-Vieux bridge, former tanneries, and the remains of the fortificationsall attest to the river’s importance in the town’s history and development.
Continue your walk to theMaison des Conférences, an elegant mansion, before exploringtheimposingSaint-Nicolas Church, which overlooks the right bank of the Baïse.
The tour ends in front of theHenri IV Castle-Museum, the former residence of the powerful d’Albret family. Its remarkable Renaissance gallery evokes Nérac’s golden age, when the town hosted the court of Navarre and the youngHenri of Navarre, the future Henri IV.
A journey through Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance to discover Nérac through its monuments, landscapes, and the history of the d’Albret family.
Visit the Nérac Tourist Office
7 Avenue Mondenard – 47600 NERAC
05.53.65.27.75
Free guided tours by reservation: Sunday, September 20, at 10 a.m.
Starting at the Mézin Tourist Office, you’ll set out to explore the village of Mézin and its Cork and Bottle Stopper Museum.
A morning to discover all that Mézin has to offer!
Spend two hours exploring the history and heritage of Mézines throughtwo exceptional guided tours.
From10 a.m. to 11 a.m., a guide from the Tourist Office will take you on atour of the village. Explore the remarkable Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church and discover the Place des Arcades, the heart of the town since the Middle Ages. The tour will also take you on the trail of Armand Fallières, a native of Mézin who served as President of the Republic from 1906 to 1913.
From11 a.m. to 12 p.m., there’s a change of guide and setting: head tothe Cork and Cork Stopper Museumto discover Mézin’s other great history. For one hour, immerse yourself in the world of the 19th- and 20th-century cork-making town and in the cork-related crafts that have profoundly shaped the town’s economy, landscape, and identity.
Two guides, two perspectives, and one morning to explore the key chapters in Mézin’s history, from the Middle Ages to the Industrial Age.
Meet at the Mézin Tourist Office
, Place Armand Fallières – 47170 MEZIN
Free guided tour (reservation required): Saturday, September 19, at 10 a.m.
Starting at the Vianne Tourist Office, you’ll set out to explore the fortified bastide of Vianne, one of the most authentic reminders of the Albret region’s medieval past.
Join a tour guide from the Tourist Office and set out to explore Vianne, a bastide founded in 1284by Jourdain de l’Isle together with King Edward I of England.
Behind its imposing medieval gates lies a city with an exceptional heritage.Ramparts, towers, fortified gates, and streets laid out in a regular gridstill tell the story of this new medieval city, built on the banks of the Baïse River.
As you tour the town, discover how Vianne organized itself, protected itself, and grew over the centuries. Look up, examine the stones, and let yourself be captivated by the stories—both big and small—that have shaped this remarkably well-preserved bastide.
A true immersion in the Middle Ages, in the heart of one of the most authentic examples of Albret’s fortified heritage.
Meet at the Vianne Tourist Office
, Place des Marronniers – 47230 VIANNE
Albret Tourist Office
The Moulin des Tours and the Henri IV Castle Museum will be open for tours between October 20 and 30…
Discover Château Le Courréjot, a family-owned estate in Condom, and share their passion for Armagnac.
From the still to the barrel cellar, discover their expertise and round out your tour with a tasting of their Armagnacs.
Discover the Hôtel Henri IV, a charming 3-star hotel located in the heart of Nérac, perfect for a weekend getaway, a stopover during your travels, or a relaxing stay.
Fancy a getaway to Albret? Discover the Hôtel Henri IV, a charming 3-star hotel located in the heart of Nérac—perfect for a weekend getaway, a stopover during your travels, or a relaxing stay.
