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The church of Vianne is not in the center but on the edge of the village near the east gate. It is dedicated to both Notre Dame and St. Christopher. There are some very special capitals. It is reasonable to assume that there was also a priory and hospital or pilgrims' hostel here. Perhaps this was intended to keep the sick closer to the edge of the town?

The name of Saint Christopher (Saint-CHRISTOPHE), to whom this Romanesque church in Vianne is dedicated, means "Christ-bearer". According to the legend of the saint, he was a gigantic man and carried people across a river. One day a small child called to him and he carried it on his shoulders to the other bank. Amazingly, the child became heavier and he said he felt as if the weight of the whole world was on his shoulders. Then the child revealed himself to him as Jesus Christ, Savior and Redeemer of the world.

Beautiful church of Romanesque origin dedicated to Saint Christopher

Nérac is, like Amboise, a royal city insofar as the commune is the fief of the lords of Albret who became king of Navarre in the 15th century. It is also the epicentre of Protestantism. After the massacre of Saint Bartholomew, a treaty between the two religions was born in this city. This is the Edict of Nérac which restored rights for Protestants. It was signed on 28 February 1579 between King Henry III and the religionists. After the death of Henry III in 1589, the city lost its influence, because having no descendants, it was Henri de Navarre-Bourbon-Albret who became king of France under the name of Henri IV. It is then said that when the doors of Paris opened to Henry, those of fame closed for Nérac.

The visit to Nérac revolves around its navigable river, the Baïse. From the Saint-Nicolas church or the Petit Nérac viewpoint, you can see the port, the Old Bridge and the tanneries which today house an art gallery and restaurants. The walk takes place along the streets (Maison des Conferences, Château d'Henri IV and its museum) and in the Royal Park of La Garenne redesigned by Queen Margot, wife of Henri IV.

The Barbaste mill is located on the right bank of the Gélise, a thousand meters from its confluence with the Baïse, on the territory of the commune of Nérac, in Lot-et-Garonne, in New Aquitaine. Part of the dam facilities are located in the municipality of Barbaste.

The Baïse river is navigable over 62km from April 1st to November 1st. Beautiful, wild and relaxing, it lets us go with the flow. Its major asset: its tranquillity. Cruising speed is limited to 6km/h. Boaters cross Gascony at a slow pace, the departments of Gers and Lot-et-Garonne to stop over in the territories of Albret and Ténarèze. Nérac, one of the most beautiful river ports in France, welcomes you for a colorful stopover!

Built at the end of the 13th century and functioning as a mill, the structure also served as a fortified castle during the Wars of Religion. A function to which it seems more suited when we observe its towers and its imposing presence on the Gélise.