Located in the alluvial plain of the Garonne at an altitude of 46 m, today between the Garonne canal and the Deux Mers motorway, Sérignac is a town with nearly 1,200 inhabitants. Its nautical stopover and its proximity to the greenway as well as its welcome for cyclists make it a very popular place for holidaymakers. Sérignac inevitably has the charm of rural villages which have preserved their soul.
Sérignac is the only village in Lot-et-Garonne to have a twisted bell tower. One more originality for this small Gascon town not to be missed under any circumstances!
Erected as a country house by a paréage charter of 1273, by Gaston VII, viscount of Béarn and lord of Bruilhois, and Abbot Gaillard de Figeac, administrator of the Clunisian priory of Layrac who had received the church of Sérignac as a donation in 1062, the village was organized around the church according to the principle of envelopment. This partly Romanesque church from the 11th century proves by its presence in the heart of the bastide an older population. It was installed on the site of an ancient Roman entrenched camp called Seraniacum and which would have given its name to the village. Its main street is lined with cutlery dating from the creation of the bastide and its partly renovated half-timbered houses give the village a special character.
Formerly called "Sérignac d'Agenais", the town has a prestigious historical past. This land, often washed by the Garonne, is very rich and highly coveted. It was indeed initially, the stronghold of the house of Armagnac then of Béarn and finally of Bruilhois before being attached to the crown of France by Henri IV. Even if at the time of the creation of the bastide, the region enjoyed relative peace, it was nevertheless made up of a multitude of small political units, jealous of their prerogatives, alongside which some great powers tried to impose their kings. The zones of influence of the kingdoms of Spain, England and France thus intersect in the vicinity of the Garonne. The territory was then shared between two major authorities: the Duchy of Aquitaine under English domination since 1154 and the County of Toulouse, representative of Capetian power.
In addition, Sérignac is located in the center of the immense forest of Bruilhois which moreover means "wood", "wooded riverside" where bands of looters have taken up residence, not hesitating to ransom those who dare to venture there.
It is therefore in this context of rivalries that Sérignac received its charter of customs, written in the Gascon language.
Today two restaurants, l'Escale and the Prince Noir, offer refined and local meals. Traditionally, Succès and grilled flan have made the reputation of the Sérignac pastry shop. So do not hesitate to visit him and get lost in the maze of small alleys, some inhabitants will be happy to tell you about their village and its various attractions.
