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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.

Nestled on the banks of the Baïse River, Nérac offers a peaceful atmosphere. Formerly the residence of Henry of Navarre, the future Henry IV, the town preserves a rich heritage with its castle, cobbled streets, and half-timbered houses.

Perched high in the Lot-et-Garonne region, Moncrabeau offers a superb panoramic view of the Baïse Valley. Known as the "world capital of liars," the village holds a lying competition every summer, organized by the Académie des Menteurs (Liars' Academy), a good-natured tradition that has made its reputation far beyond the region.

Route consists of both gravel and asphalt as a concrete track, it is best to take into account the choice of tires there if you go out by bike!

The quays of the Baïse still have the descents used for loading and unloading barges.

Road to Barbaste

A historic town by the river. The Écluse de Nérac is one of the many local highlights.

Worth the effort for a nice photo!