{"id":86,"date":"2020-05-28T08:50:37","date_gmt":"2020-05-28T07:50:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.auch-tourisme.com\/en\/auch-historic-capital-of-gascony"},"modified":"2020-10-08T16:21:55","modified_gmt":"2020-10-08T14:21:55","slug":"auch-historic-capital-of-gascony","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.auch-tourisme.com\/en\/auch-c%c5%93ur-de-gascogne-the-heart-of-gascony\/criss-cross-auch-and-the-heart-of-gascony\/auch-historic-capital-of-gascony\/","title":{"rendered":"Auch, historic capital of Gascony"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Auch<\/a> location at a crossroads has encouraged its development through the centuries. The historic district with charming lanes and fantastic monuments is waiting for you … <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Auch, the Gascony deeply<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Augusta Auscorum was born of the fusion of an Aquitain-based people living on the right bank of the Gers and the Roman culture that was imposed here after the conquest by Julius Caesar. Among the early invaders were the Vascones who lent their name to the former Roman province in the 6th century: Vasconia would evolve into Gascony, of which Auch<\/a> became the archiepiscopal centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Cathedrale<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Full of character<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

An absolute must : go up the great staircase<\/a>‘s 354 steps, admire an iconic statue of D’Artagnan<\/a> the legendary musketeer and exceptional monuments, make your way down along “pousterles”, Auch old town’s signature steep lanes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The historic district of Auch <\/h3>\n

Characteristic appearance as a medieval town, of which many elements still remain. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

During the 18th century, the intendant D’Etigny transformed and beautified Auch<\/a>. Urban planning projects carried out under the Second Empire would confer it its modern appearance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A great heritage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sainte-Marie cathedral<\/a>, listed with UNESCO, which features three principle treasures: its stained glass, its organs and the exceptional woodwork of its choir stalls<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Cath\u00e9<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The cathedra<\/a>l, whose construction spanned two hundred years, was finished in 1680 and exemplifies the transition between Flamboyant Gothic and classic Renaissance style. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazing Pre-Columbian collections <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The Museum of the Americas \u2013 Auch<\/a> houses a fabulous collection of Pre-Columbian art \u2013 the second largest collection in all of France \u2013 as well as Egyptian, Gallo-Roman, Medieval collections, paintings, sculpture, and also traces the traditions of Gascony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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On the way to Santiago de Compostela <\/h3>\n

As a major stage of the Santiago de Compostela routes (Arles trail, GR653), the town is flooded with pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Auch has its own festival<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the Auch’s identities today is as city of modern circus arts. The Centre de Recherche et d’Innovation Circacienne organises the Festival du Cirque Actuel<\/a> (Festival of Modern Circus Arts) in Auch every year at the end of October.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Circus arts at Auch<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Auch, A Top Occitania Site<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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