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Nerac

Visit Nerac, Aquitaine

Nerac is a town on the southern edge of the Lot-et-Garonne department of south-west France. There are few major highlights except the castle but Nerac is nonetheless a pleasant town to spend a morning exploring and there are some interesting medieval buildings to discover around the town which lies on both sides of the Baise River.

The historically important Albret region had Nerac as capital and lay on the northern edge of Gascony. Like other historical region names (Gascony, Perigord, Quercy) the Albret name is now used in much tourist information to describe the region around Nérac (and Castejaloux).

Explore Nerac

The cluster of buildings just north of the old bridge is a good place to start, then explore the section of the town south of the river and between the two bridges (behind and south of the castle). Near the Vieux Pont take a look at the wonderful colombage (half-timber) buildings of the old tanneries, then you can take a boat trip along the river to get even better views of this lovely stretch of the Baise river. Ahead of you above the river is the Church of Notre Dame.

It is the Chateau Henry IV at Nerac that attracts most visitors to the town. Only a part of the original chateau remains but it is a very impressive wing of the original castle, with a round tower and an arcaded balcony with decorative columns running along the first floor level.

The castle now houses a museum tracing the history of the region, and in particular of the Albret region - the museum holds archaelogical finds and an exhibition about the history of the Albret family.

Go to the tourist information office and pick up a map with a guided walk around Nerac's highlights.

In the main part of town as well as the Chateau Henri IV you can see the town hall, which was once the town's prison. If you follow the guided walk around Nerac you can also see the building which was the original town hall and is one of the oldest buildings in Nerac although it was largely destroyed by a fire in 1611.

Wandering around the centre of Nerac there are many attractive buildings dating from the 15th to 17th centuries. The most interesting part of the town is on the other side of the river. You should also take a walk up to the viewpoint (belvedere) as the views over the river and the town below are really excellent.

If you have time take a walk along the river and through the Parc Royal de la Garenne. Once a royal hunting ground it is now a very pleasant park and there are a number of notable fountains in the park. On the other side of the river is a 16th century pavilion which was once used by ladies to undress for bathing in the river.

Market day in Nerac is Saturday morning. Nerac holds a colourful flower market the second weekend of May.

Attractions nearby

Close to Nerac is the newly opened Lud'O Parc which is a large water park which has been designed to look like a Roman ruin but has lots of water jets, slides etc to keep the family amused.

Photos of Nerac (click any picture to start the gallery)

Tourist classifications for Nerac: Village in bloom (ville fleurie) 3*; 'Historical protected town centre' (secteur sauvegardé);

Suggested places to visit near Nerac, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Fources 20km; Condom 21km; Larressingle 23km; Agen 23km; Montreal-du-Gers 25km; Casteljaloux 27km; Lectoure 32km; Puymirol 36km; Laroque-Timbaut 37km; Pujols 38km; Villeneuve-sur-Lot 41km; Gramont Chateau 41km; Fleurance 42km; Frespech 42km; Vic Fezensac 43km; Auvillar 45km;

See these places and more on a map at places near Nerac

Nerac tourism: sights and attractions nearby

Eglise de Sainte Marie (Aubiac) - religious monument (17km) : Prieuré de Sainte Marie (Moirax) - religious monument (21km) : Jardin et arboretum de Coursiana - remarkable garden (22km) : Cathédrale Saint Caprais d'Agen (Agen) - religious monument (23km) : Eglise de Saint Martin (Layrac) - religious monument (25km) : Blaziert - ville fleurie 4* (26km) : Ets Latour-Marliac - remarkable garden (30km) : Eglise de Sainte Livrade (Sainte-Livrade-sur-Lot) - religious monument (34km) :