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La Prade

The name ‘La Prade’ most likely derives from ‘prat’ - the Occitan (local dialect) word for ‘meadow’. In turn, ‘prat’ derives from the Latin ‘pratum’ of the same meaning (similar to ‘prado’ in modern Spanish meaning ‘meadow’).

Early records indicate that La Prade was owned by the Abbaye de Bouillas - a large Cistercian monastery originally situated north-east of nearby Pauilhac. The Abbaye existed from 1150 until it was destroyed in 1858. By the mid-1700s, La Prade had become a substantial property under the ownership of Pierre Darribeau, a prominent Lectoure businessman, ‘consul perpetuel’ and counsellor to King Louis XV. Ownership subsequently transferred to his son (Pierre Francois Bernard Darribeau (1738-1821/33)). The younger Darribeau and his cousin Jean-Antoine Druilhet prospered and had become the joint-owners of the Royal Tannery in nearby Lectoure in 1770. Darribeau is also listed as the landlord of the Lectoure masonic lodge ‘La Fidélité’ formed in 1782. Somehow, both Darribeau and Druilhet managed to survive the upheaval of the French Revolution in 1789 because they remained prominent in local society in the subsequent years. Pierre Francois Bernard Darribeau is shown as the owner of La Prade and other properties in the cadastral plan of 1810. In the same 1810 plan, his cousin Druilhet is shown as the owner of the Abbaye de Bouillas and the mayor of Lectoure (1800-1815).

The Area

The area of Gascony (Le Gers) is sometimes referred to as the 'forgotten corner’ of France: home of foie gras, Armagnac and slow living. La Prade is in the heart of the ‘golden triangle’ between Lectoure, Fleurance and Condom - a spectacular area of rolling hills known for its medieval ‘bastide’ villages.

Pauilhac (2 km) - a small village famous for the ‘treasure of Pauilhac’ - a neolithic collection of gold, polished axes and flint blades from 3,500 BC which were discovered accidentally in 1865 when the local railway was being built. The horde is now on display in the Musee d’Aquitaine in Bordeaux. This discovery hints at a potential 5,000 year history of habitation in the immediate area. More recently (in 2007), paleolithic tools were discovered at Landioy (Lamothe-Goas) - a farm 1,400m away from La Prade. This site has yet to be investigated fully but hints at an even longer history of habitation in the immediate area - possibly dating more than 10,000 years. Who knows?

Lectoure (10 km) - A beautiful hill-top town with a long history. Before the Romans arrived, it was the capital of the Lactorates tribe. It later became the capital city of the Earldom of Armagnac. It remains an important stopping point on the pilgrimage route to Saint Jacques to Compostelle. Boutique hotels. Restaurants. Shopping. Thermal spring. Antiques. Market on Friday mornings.

Fleurance (7 km) - Gascon market town. Major market on Tuesdays and a smaller one in the central town hall on Saturdays.

Condom (26 km) - the home of the Four Musketeers and well-known for the production of Armagnac.

Abbaye de Flaran (26 km) - a former Cistercian abbey founded in 1151 (and one of two Cistercian abbeys in Le Gers - the other being Abbaye de Bouillas) and now a cultural centre for the region of Le Gers.

Seviac (43 km) - site of major Roman villa

Nearest Airport: Toulouse Blagnac (80 km - approximately 1 hour 20 mins)

Other areas of interest:

Bordeaux - approx 2 hours 15 mins (180km)

Pyrenees - approx 2 hours 30 mins (145km) to Pic du Midi