Lherm is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department, in the Occitanie region, 29 km south-west of Toulouse.
Its territory of 27 km² is located within the former country and county of Comminges, once delimited to the west by Gascony and to the east by Landuedoc.
Between the Toulouse plain to the north and the Pyrenean foothills to the south, the locality crossed by several rivers has retained a rural character, covered with arable land and agricultural areas (81%) of its area.
Initially fortified, the village developed at the beginning of the Middle Ages in the shadow of a church and a castle that disappeared in the 13th century. The fort that succeeded it became the home of the consuls.
The town still reflects the prosperity of the city, long the seat of a vast archpriest and now, Lherm has nearly 3700 inhabitants. This small town in the countryside seduces visitors and holidaymakers with its center of character, its heritage and its varied leisure offer.
In addition to the center of the town as such, whose very layout and a few dwellings (in the form of mansions) reflect the medieval past and then the prosperity of Lherm under the Old Regime and in the 19th century, several heritage sites particularly deserve attention.
This is the case of the Saint-André church, erected in the 16th century on the top of the old feudal mound: three earlier chapels were then joined together on which a nave was grafted (1525). Lateral chapels are added later. A neo-classical bell tower and other chapels were built during the 19th century. Overall belonging to southern Gothic, the church, listed in the Inventory, also houses several pieces of furniture and works classified as objects: a sculpted group comprising a Virgin of Mercy, a framed cross, a statue of the Virgin, carved oak stalls. Some old frescoes have also been preserved.
Nearby is the Notre-Dame-du-Bout-du-Pont chapel, located, during its construction in the 18th century, outside the old medieval fort demolished in 1840. It takes its name from the fact that it adjoined an old drawbridge. The chapel was probably built on the foundations of a tower of the fortified enclosure. Built in brick, its nave is rectangular and its choir with a ceiling frame ends in a semicircle. A campanile surmounts the awning sheltering the entrance. The chapel is also listed in the Inventory.
Also worth mentioning, to the south-west of the town, is the Château de Jottes, the first mentions of which date from the 11th century. The estate has been remodeled several times and includes outbuildings. The whole was built of bricks. Today, after being burnt down in 1997, the castle, whose courtyard once hosted shows, has a heterogeneous style, like the three-storey exterior facade of the main building, framed by two square towers. A project to transform the site into housing while rehabilitating the current building has been initiated.
Nearby, the Château de la Serreuille, also in brick and also remodeled over the centuries, has preserved the remains of an elegant Italian fountain.
On the cultural level, the Cap Al Campestre museum dedicated to popular arts and traditions is located in the northeast of the territory. The establishment is made up of a dozen small thematic buildings that explain the know-how and daily life of yesteryear. Are thus presented via exhibitions and workshops (making bread, printing, production of apple juice, braiding ropes...) trades, means of communication and other aspects of life in the past in rural areas. Open every day. Find out about the working hours of the workshops. Educational welcome for young people. Price: from 3 to 7 euros. Contact on +33 5 61 51 14 56.
The media library offers events throughout the year (meetings, readings, exhibitions). Information on +33 5 61 56 18 75.
In addition, shows and association events are regularly scheduled in the village hall. Inquire at the town hall on +33 5 61 56 07 25.
As regards sports and "nature" leisure, we can first mention the aerodrome of Muret-Lherm, in the north-east of the territory, dedicated to the recreational aviation and microlights. First flights are offered, as well as initiation flights (ULM) or piloting lessons. Information on +33 9 66 42 08 73.
In the village, there is a city stadium, a skate park, multi-sport synthetic pitches and tennis courts (to book on +33 6 37 87 94 33).
For pleasant horseback riding in the surrounding countryside, contact the Moulin de Parade equestrian center on +33 6 13 96 51 20.
All you have to do is take advantage of the hiking trails in the town: four long marked trails from 9 to 17 km are available which allow you to follow the canal and rivers, to discover the cultivated fields having succeeded the vines of yesteryear which disappeared with phylloxera, and some wooded areas. This bucolic environment is accessible on certain sections to mountain bikers. Of course, larger hikes to reach Muret or even Lauragais, to the northeast, or to "go up" the Garonne valley towards the foothills, to the south. Maps and information on +33 5 62 02 01 79.
On Friday at the end of the afternoon, farmer's market.
The first Sunday in May, flea market.
The second weekend in May, a major air show at the aerodrome.
The first weekend of August, communal festival with games, meals, dancing, fireworks.
