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FLEURANCE , 24km north of Auch, has a typical bastide central square, place de la Republique , bordered by arcaded shops and houses, with the difference that its medieval halle , now the town hall, was successfully converted into mellow classical stone in the nineteenth century. The church is worth a look, too, for its octagonal Toulouse-style belfry and, more particularly, the three stained-glass windows executed by Arnaud de Moles, the artist of Auch cathedral. The tourist office is on the place de la Republique (July & Aug Mon-Sat 9am-6.30pm, Sun 9am-12.30pm; rest of year Mon-Sat 9am-1pm & 3.30-6pm; tel 05.62.64.00.00, fax 05.62.06.27.80). If you wish to stay, the only hotels are the central two-star Le Relais (tel 05.62.06.05.08, fax 05.62.06.03.84; 220-300F/?34-46) and, just out of town on the route d'Agen, the large, modern Le Fleurance (tel 05.62.06.14.85, le.fleurance.hotel@libertysurf.fr ; 220-300F/?34-46). Eleven kilometres further north sits LECTOURE , the smallest and prettiest of the three towns, built astride a high ridge looking out over the surrounding farmland. Capital of the colony of Novempopulania in Roman times and of the counts of Armagnac until their demise at the hands of Louis XI in 1473, it is now renowned for its melons. In the middle of the main street, the Cathedrale de St-Gervais-et-de-St-Protais raises its enormous tower above the town, while down the rue Fontelie, among scarcely altered medieval houses, you come to the Fontaine de Diane . Apart from the handsome Mairie, with its Musee Lapidaire (April-Sept daily 10am-noon & 2-5/6pm; rest of year closed Tues; 15F/?2.29), containing some interesting Roman bits and pieces, this pretty much exhausts the sights. The tourist office , on place de la Cathedrale (Mon-Sat 8.30am-noon & 2-5/6pm, Sun 3-5pm; tel 05.62.68.76.98, fax 05.62.68.79.30), runs the GR65 gite d'etape on  © 2003 by Rough Guides Ltd. as trustee for its Authors. Published by Rough Guides. All rights reserved. Rough Guides name is a trademark of Rough Guides Ltd. Buy the book here!
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nearby rue St-Gervais (same phone number). Just around the corner from the gite is the superb but unfortunately named Hotel de Bastard in rue Lagrange (tel 05.62.68.82.44, fax 05.62.68.76.81; 300-400F/?46-61; closed Jan; menus from 88F/?13.42), while the Auberge des Bouviers (tel 05.62.68.95.13; 160-220F/?24-34; closed Sun evening & Mon; restaurant from around 80F/?12.20), at 8 rue Montebello near the central market hall, makes for an atmospheric place to stay and eat.
Your Tips For Fleurance and Lectoure
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