Lavardens castle, all year long

Lavardens castle was home to the Counts of Armagnac, and how houses the Centre d’Art en Gascogne art centre presided over by Christophe Jankowiak and enthusiastically curated by Jérémie Martinez and his team of volunteers. Its doors open to the public once the harsh winter is over to unveil an eclectic events programme.

Plan your visit

• Perry Taylor presents his funny. clever illustrations.

• The key exhibition of the year “Fragments from Japan – between contemporary art and Traditions” untill 27 September.

Painters including Kojiro Akagi whose has received countless awards for his works, Rikizo Fukao and his red and black universe, photographs of geishas, lacquerware, calligraphy, ceramists, glassmakers, sculptures on wood, ancient and modern kimonos, furniture and 18^th and 19^th-century engravings, and more still

• On 24 October, the castle’s rich, turbulent history will be unfurled before you to the sounds of 14-18^th century composers.
• On 22 December, you will appreciate the concert “Cosi fa l’amor” given by « Nuits Musicales en Armagnac ».

• From 17 October, the castle takes on a Christmassy air as “L’Art du Santon” draws on crafts workers and artists from a variety of places bringing with them as many as 20,000 santons and cribs. In December, a tasting event featuring 13 desserts perpetuates the traditional gourmet rendezvous.

Alternatively, you could just come for the place

You’re bound to be blown away by this history-laden place! When the front of the castle and its two cantilevered towers rising on the corbelling (or vaults) enchant you, when the brick and local stone paving delight you, stop and spare a thought… for this monument nearly ended up as a heap of rubble!

Over the centuries, love and passion have saved the castle from going to ruin. It was listed as a historic monument in 1961.