Discovering Gers in Gascony
Located in South West France, midway between the ocean and the mountains,
Gers is one of the eight departments (a Department is a French administration
subdivision) of the Midi-Pyrenees Region.
Its 6 257 km2 are adjacent to five departments: in the north the Lot-et-Garonne
and the Tarn-et-Garonne, in the east and south east the Haute-Garonne,
in the south the Hautes-Pyrenees, and, finally, in the west the Landes.
Gers was administratively created in 1790 and has three districts today:
Auch, the prefecture, Condom and Mirande, both sub-prefectures. Gers has
31 cantons (administrative divisions) and 463 towns or villages, and represents
1.15% of the national territory.
| Auch
: |
23
501 |
| Condom
: |
7
555 |
| Fleurance
: |
6
414 |
| L'Isle-Jourdain
: |
5
665 |
| Lectoure
: |
4
440 |
| Eauze
: |
3
976 |
| Mirande
: |
4
040 |
| Vic-Fezensac
: |
3
712 |
| Gimont
: |
2
787 |
| Pavie
: |
2
408 |
Towns over
2 000 inhabitants:
Some geographic reference marks
Auch is 794 km away from Paris, 130 km away from the Spanish border,
180 km away from Bordeaux et 77 km away from Toulouse.
"If you irresistibly feel like sea bathing in the waves and like farniente
in summer, or if snowy slopes appeal to you in winter, no problem!, the nearest
beach and the nearest ski resort are less than one hour and a half away from
Gers".
A mild climate
The heart of Gers cannot choose between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean
Sea, with a Pyrenees background. Such situation explains its transition
climate in which temperatures are mild with gentle winters and hot summers.
Population
Gers has 172 335 inhabitants.
The average density is rather low, 28 inhabitants per km2 (against 104 on a
national basis), which gives this department a matchless quality of life.
Some economic data
Traditionally an agricultural and a wine-producing area, Gers, the most
rural department in France, nationally holds the 1st rank for the production
of goose foie gras, the 1st rank for the production of garlic and oleaginous.
Gers is also the 1st farrowing-producing department for Anglo Arab horses.
Gers holds the 2nd rank for the production of fat ducks, of capons and
of Red Label farm turkeys, the 2nd rank as well for the production of
cereal and vegetable seeds, the 3rd rank for the production of hard wheat,
the 8th rank for the production of melons, and for wine production (AOC
and VDQS - both labels guaranteeing the quality of wines - and local wines),
Armagnac, Floc de Gascogne.
From d'Artagnan to Internet, Gers forges ahead
Gers is anxious to enter the 3rd millennium with the best weapons and
is also an innovative department as far as Media and Communication New
Technologies are concerned.
The map or
how to get there
Contacts