The best traffic-free bike rides around Espiens

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.

Since the time of Henri IV and the court of Nérac, Moncrabeau has been located at the heart of the main routes connecting Nérac, Condom, Mézin, La Romieu, and Larressingle. The old merchant and agricultural paths, structured by the Baïse valley and the Gascon hillsides, today form an ideal network for touring cycling. Here, every pedal stroke extends the history of the old paths, at the gentle pace of Albret.

Once the arrival and departure point for the train, Nérac station is now a prime passage point on the Voie Verte de l’Albret, developed on the former railway line. Where wagons once ran, pedestrians and cyclists now advance in complete serenity, along a gentle route connecting the villages of Albret. A testament to the valley's industrial and railway past, the station marks a successful transition between the memory of the rail and today's soft mobility, in the heart of the Baïse landscapes.

The Château Henri IV of Nérac, former residence of the lords of Albret, bears witness to the city's rich Renaissance past. Overlooking the Baïse, it was one of the living places of the future King Henri IV and remains today a must-see to discover the history of Albret.

Nérac Castle was founded in the 14th century, within a medieval town surrounded by walls and backing onto the Baïse River. Beginning in 1491, Alain d'Albret modernized this first tower and had three wings built. The west wing included the drawbridge and service rooms, the north wing housed Jeanne d'Albret's apartments, and the east wing constituted the main building of the castle. It was in this castle that Marguerite de Navarre, sister of Francis I and author of the Heptaméron, lived. A committed humanist, she brought Jacques Lefèvre d'Étaples, nicknamed the French Erasmus, to Nérac. Jeanne d'Albret, her daughter, was also sensitive to the ideas of her time and brought Théodore de Bèze to her court, before converting to Protestantism. It was in this context that Henry III of Navarre, the future King Henry IV, lived. He lived in this château for about ten years with Queen Marguerite de Valois, known as Queen Margot. The latter was responsible for the creation of the 3000-Step Avenue in the Parc de la Garenne, along the Baïse. This avenue, punctuated over the years with new fountains, was then surrounded by walls and accessible from the château by a bridge. The years following the assassination of Henri IV by Ravaillac in 1610 marked the decline of the château, first due to royal reprisals against Protestants and then due to the destruction caused by the French Revolution in 1793, when the château was declared national property. After the revolutionary destruction, only the north wing of the château remained, with its twisted columns so characteristic of the Renaissance style. The château was divided into lots and inhabited by several owners. Gradually, the municipality became interested in restoring the château, and a restoration project was drawn up by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, whose sketches are on display in the museum. However, it wasn't until 1925 that the city became the owner of the entire building and began a restoration project to house the municipal museum. Since then, the royal residence and writer's home, the Château-Musée Henri IV, has offered visitors a permanent exhibition dedicated to Henri IV and the d'Albret family on the first floor, and the art of living during the Renaissance on the ground floor through various themes.

The Buzet-sur-Baïse river stop is ideal for taking a break along the Canal Lateral à la Garonne. Perfect for cyclists, with plenty of supplies to stock up on!

Montgaillard-en-Albret, perched on the hills of Lot-et-Garonne, is a small village that exudes authenticity. Its quiet streets and medieval heritage make it a pleasant stopover for cyclists seeking rural charm.

The village of Damazan has retained all its charm with its central square and half-timbered houses. It's the perfect place to park your bike, enjoy a coffee in the shade, and soak up the atmosphere of the southwest.