Agen, the Lot et Garonne Prefecture, offers all the structuring and innovative equipments of a major city, at only 1h from Bordeaux and Toulouse, with the charm and life quality of a quiet and balmy town.
The Canal Bridge
The Canal Bridge is the second longest in France (580 meters). It is of dressed stone construction and was built between 1839 and 1843. Ten meters high and spanning the River Garonne, it offers a panoramic view of the town. After the bridge, there is a 12.5 meter descent through a system of 4 automatic locks.
The Church of our Lady of the Jacobins
The Church of Our Lady of the Jacobins is the former chapel of the Dominican monastery and was erected in 1249. It is situated at the highest point of the town and is one of France's few remaining intact examples of Dominican architecture. Its simplicity and austerity were a reaction to the advance of Catharism. It was turned into a citadel in 1585 by Queen Margot, but was blown up under attack by the Protestants. The Church has been restored to house major exhibitions. (The Museum is in charge of admission.).
The place des Laitiers
The "Place des Laitiers " (the Dairy Market) was the forum of the old Gallo-Roman town and the square of the original St. Etienne Cathedral. This is the heart of the town, where on Saturdays you can buy produce from an Organic Farmers' Market. The Boulevard de la République, built at the end of the 19th century on the instructions of the architect Baron Haussmann, cuts through the square and has become the town's High Street.
The Museum of Fine Arts
The richness and diversity of its collection make The Museum of Fine Art one of the most important museums in Aquitaine. It is known for its 5 Goyas, of which one is a self-portrait, the " Venus du Mas " from the Roman Period and the Tintoretto from the Venetian Renaissance, which was discovered during an inventory of the collection in 1997. The museum is housed in four superb mansions from the 16th and 17th centuries: the Hôtel de Verges, the Hôtel de Monluc (the Head of the Catholic Army), the Hôtel de Vaurs (where Nostradamus was a regular visitor) and the Hôtel d'Estrades (an ambassador under Louis XIII and Louis XIV).
LA CATHEDRALE St CAPRAIS :
St. Caprais Cathedral was begun in the 11th century, but since then has been altered and rebuilt several times, from its first dedication in 1279 to its complete renovation in the 19th century. It has been damaged many times (in the Hundred Years' War, the Wars of Religion, the Revolution...), which explains the diversity of style (the magnificent chapters, the triforium...). At first a collegiate church, it became the cathedral in 1796 after the destruction of St. Etienne. The purity of the roman chevet is exceptional.
The stone house known as “the Senechal’s”
The stone house known as "the Seneschal’s" on the Rue Puits du Saumon dates from the 14th century and is the oldest private residence in Agen. There is a startling architectural contrast between the ground floor and the ornate first floor.
Agen tourist information centre
38 rue Garonne – 47 000 Agen
Tel: +33 (0)5 53 47 36 09
Website: www.ot-agen.org
Email: otsi.agen@wanadoo.fr
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