The fortified town of Mirande, known for its famous country music festival which takes place every year in July, is also known for its Museum of Fine Arts and Decorative Arts. This museum stands on Rue de l'Évêché and contains a rich collection of Italian, Flemish and French paintings from the 15th to 19th centuries along with a fine set of antique ceramics.
After visiting the museum, it's time to discover Mirande town centre. The town square, Place d'Astarac, features a kiosk and is surrounded by arcade houses. There is also the Church of St. Mary, an old 15th-century cathedral in the southern European gothic style, with superb flying buttresses spanning Rue de l'Évêché.
Close to Lourdes, Pyrenees, Spain, near the Atlantic coast and the Basque Country, Mirande invites you to the heart of Gascony.
In the late 11th century, the South West is sparsely populated. Apart from the cities (Toulouse, Auch, Albi ...), the sauvetés or castelnaux which comprise a portion of the population, rural housing remains very fragmented. In the countryside, farmers suffer from the insecurity created by semi-nomadic peoples, uncontrolled groups, living in dense forests. In this context, the fortified contribute to change. Contemporary creations of Gothic cathedrals, they are part of a movement planning unprecedented, affecting the South West of France from 1222 (Strings) to 1373 (Labastide-d'Anjou).
The bastide Mirande, stately foundation established at the initiative of the Abbot of Berdoues and 4th Earl Bernard Astarac, under the guarantee of Eustache de Beaumarchais, seneschal of the King.
A contract is signed soon paréage 1282 and sets out the division in equal shares, rights and benefits provided by the foundation. Each contractor finds his interest: The Cistercian Monastery Berdoues provides most of the land to implement the new city. This gift, somewhat concerned, is a way to highlight an untapped field and make money. The Earl of Astarac to "bet" the King of France and provides, thereby protecting the County desires of the Count of Armagnac, his neighbor. The King of France, represented by his steward, implements its authority over land that hitherto escaped his control.
Ranked green holiday, Mirande wants fresh and welcoming and combines all the time, green space and flowers in a part of life even more attractive.
The old 15th century cathedral, a masterpiece of Southern Gothic, dominates the city of his monumental figure. His curious porch, unique in France, topped by powerful buttresses, beautifully spans the street, inviting the discovery of a prestigious past.
Spoil yourself contemplating the beautiful houses with wood sides, the arcaded square, the towers of Rohan Astarac, the remains of fortifications ... All will tell you how the founders wanted Mirande "admirable" and how fate will grant her favors.
The Museum of Fine Arts contains remarkable paintings by Italian masters, Flemish and French from the 15th to the 19th century and an important collection of ancient pottery decoration.
Leisure.
