Lavardac

Located on the edge of the Landes forest, Lavardac is the capital of the canton and has a population of 2,311. The town's geographical location offers many tourist opportunities, both regionally and departmentally. The origins of Lavardac date back to the dawn of time. The favorable site, formed by the confluence of the Gélise and Baïse rivers, was ideal for attracting people. Numerous remains scattered throughout the countryside (mosaics, pottery, coins, etc.) attest to the existence of a Gallo-Roman city. From the 15th to the 18th century, Lavardac was a center for warehousing and transit, a hub between Bordeaux, Armagnac, and Périgord, drawing its prosperity from the Baïse River.

The village of Lavardac was fortified around the castle (now destroyed) in the form of a castrum and then a bastide. Located at the confluence of the Gélise and Baïse rivers, the small village was long a commercial crossroads and an important port, where barrels of Armagnac and wine or shipments of cork were transported. This trade sustained the village for many years.

The port once had a boatmen's quarter, where the famous gabares (flat-bottomed boats) used to transport goods were built. Today, Lavardac invites you to stroll along the Baïse, daydream in the shade of the bandstand, or discover local flavors along the market aisles on Wednesday mornings.

Anecdote: The Gabare TheLavardac town hall and market hall were rebuilt in 1838 on the site of the old market hall in the heart of the bastide. Between two arches of the portico is a relief depicting a gabare, symbolizing the town's main activity. Gabares were flat-bottomed boats, enabling them to navigate in shallow waters, and were equipped with a small sail. They were pulled upstream by towpaths running alongside the river along its entire navigable length. Navigation depended on the skill of the boatmaster in maneuvering the long rudder through the river's hazards. It is this essential figure who is depicted on the relief in Lavardac. (Source:www.culture.gouv.fr)

From this economic past, the town has retained its entrepreneurial spirit and, in addition to construction activities, it now has many jobs in the mechanical engineering, plastics, and cork derivatives sectors. While strolling through Lavardac, you will discover the town hall park with its legendary trees, shaded paths, and bandstand.

The traditional market takes place every Wednesday. In this harmonious corner of Albret, hospitality is an art that continues to thrive. Everyone makes it their duty to welcome you in the best possible conditions so that you can enjoy an unforgettable vacation. It is a pleasure and a source of pride to offer you gourmet cuisine.

So let us invite you to Lavardac.

The painting of Saint CatherineThe boatmen of Lavardac had a chapel in the church dedicated to Saint Catherine, their patron saint. The altarpiece, commissioned in 1755 from the Auxitain painter Jean-Baptiste Smets (1712-1783), depicts the princess of Alexandria, crowned, in front of a desolate landscape. In her hands, she holds the sword used to behead her and the palm of martyrdom; at her feet lies the cogwheel used in her first torture, which broke and turned against her executioners. (Source:www.culture.gouv.fr)

Monuments:Bastide – Town hall park with trees – 13th-century church in Estussan – Mill on the Baïse River – Wash house

For more information:
See detailsofLavardac'sarchitecturalandmovable heritage...
See the website of the Centre d'Etudes des Bastides (Southwest)...