The best road cycling routes around Francescas

🎭 The Le circuit des Menteurs de Moncrabeau invites you to discover an original and humorous route in the heart of the village. Through alleys and squares, this circuit showcases the Gascon spirit and the famous tradition of "liars". A fun and surprising walk, where history and derision mix to offer a moment that is as cultural as it is unusual.

🚦 On the Voie Verte, this former level crossing recalls the time when trains set the rhythm of life in the valley. Today, bikes have replaced the rails, but the story continues to be read in the landscape. 🚲🌿

In Nérac, the Château Henri IV peacefully overlooks the Baïse and tells the story of a king who became a legend. Former residence of the lords of Albret, it was the beating heart of the court of Navarre during the Renaissance. It was here that Henri de Navarre, the future Henri IV, grew up and affirmed his destiny. Today, the château-museum invites you on a journey between great History and the Gascon art of living. A stroll along the river, elegant galleries, and royal memories echo each other. A must-see to understand the soul of Nérac and Albret.

A stone's throw from Moncrabeau, the Baïse picnic area is the perfect spot for an outdoor lunch break. Nestled by the water, in a green and peaceful setting, it offers an easily accessible and friendly solution for a picnic, to relax and enjoy the coolness of the river. An ideal stop for families, cyclists and walkers.

Thanks to a know-how passed down and enriched over generations, the territory has established itself as a reliable and demanding player in the multiplication of beets, sunflowers, onions, and carrots, crops intended to meet the needs of agricultural sectors in France and internationally. This specialization relies on the quality of the soils, favorable climatic conditions, but above all on the commitment of farmers, who master rigorous technical approaches . From selection to harvest, each stage is carried out with precision, guaranteeing high-performing, consistent, and adapted seeds for current agronomic challenges.

Don't miss La Romieu to greet Angeline and the cats. I didn't see any, at least not alive ones. I didn't stop there either. To get there, I took the 6 km road; you can also get there via the GR (Greater French National Trail). Its Saint-Pierre collegiate church, a 14th-century Gothic masterpiece listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is imposing. Now for the legend... Around 1342, a terrible famine struck La Romieu. The starving inhabitants went so far as to eat all the cats in the village, thinking they were preserving their meager resources. But a little girl named Angeline, an orphan taken in by a local couple, adored cats. She hid two in the cellar, secretly feeding them, and then they bred. A little later, with all the cats gone, the village was invaded by thousands of rats, destroying the meager grain reserves and causing an even worse disaster. It was then that Angeline freed her cats. They multiplied again, drove out the rats, and saved the village. Angeline was honored by the villagers, and according to legend, her face took on the appearance of a cat, with feline features—a magical transformation to thank her love and loyalty to cats. Today, in tribute to this story, numerous cat statues adorn the streets, facades, and rooftops of the village.

Nestled on the banks of the Baïse River, Nérac offers a peaceful atmosphere. Formerly the residence of Henry of Navarre, the future Henry IV, the town preserves a rich heritage with its castle, cobbled streets, and half-timbered houses.

Perched high in the Lot-et-Garonne region, Moncrabeau offers a superb panoramic view of the Baïse Valley. Known as the "world capital of liars," the village holds a lying competition every summer, organized by the Académie des Menteurs (Liars' Academy), a good-natured tradition that has made its reputation far beyond the region.