Visiting Fourcès in the Gers department in September 2021 prior to a heavy storm so there is rumbling thunder, lightning and high winds during the visit. It is well worth watching how the winds change towards the end of the video and blow the autumn leaves off the trees making it sound like rain falling. The storm finally breaks on the way home. A lovely gem of a town, it's small to walk around so I have avoided cutting the footage too heavily so join us as we wander.

Fourcès in the Gers department is officially one of the prettiest villages in France ( "Les Plus Beaux Villages de France"). With medieval arcades, beautiful walkways, quirky shops and several restaurants, it’s a fabulous place to while away a few hours admiring its beauty, it is also the only town in France to have a round square”.

As you enter the town of Fourcès, you can’t help but stop in your tracks as you cross over the 15th century stone bridge. Under it flows the gentle fish-filled Ruisseau de Lauzoue river, a tributary of the mighty Garonne. As you look up the round square, Place des Cornières, is directly in front of you. Plane trees line a central walkway that cuts across it. Around it are half timbered houses and a medieval arcaded walk. It’s fairy tale pretty, as if your dream of the most beautiful little country town in France had come to life.
There was once a castle on the round square, in this round fortified town. Built in the 11th century, it has long gone. Another castle “new”, built in the 15th century is now a hotel, but in a different location. A 13th century clock tower remains, and there are many old houses dating from the 13th to the 18th century.

Fourcès is a town that’s made for dawdling. Secret walkways and cobbled streets with vine covered walls. Plants and flowers trickle from boxes in windows and at doorways. On the last Sunday of June each year, the town holds a painters day with exhibitions and workshops. In the summer, jazz fills the air as performers from the famous Marciac Jazz festival take a turn in the round square. Amongst other events, a book market, classical music and parties are held here. For a tiny town with just 300 residents, the social calendar is remarkably full.

The medieval arcades are home to restaurants and on sunny days, tables under the arches offer welcome shade. There are arts and crafts galleries and quirky boutiques, antique shops and B&Bs. Waking up here must be like dreaming you were in a film, opening the curtains and finding you’re still on set.

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