Ornella and Donato’s Visit to Lectoure

Ornella and Donato arrived in Toulouse on Monday evening.  We picked them up and drove home, had a quick dinner, and walked up to Rue Nationale for Lundi Nuit.  We enjoyed wine at Chez Yann while Los Pagayos bandas played.  It was a festive start to their visit!

On Tuesday morning, Ornella and I walked on the Chemin de Saint Jacques near Lectoure.  We shopped a bit in Lectoure and visited the Brocante Village.  We had lunch at Chez Vous in Saint-Puy, and we visited Abbaye de Flaran.  We had a simple dinner of charcuterie, cheeses, fruits, and fresh bread for dinner.  We sat on our 4th floor balcony after dinner and talked into the dark.  A nice day!

Ornella and I walked again on Wednesday morning, on the moulin road north of Lectoure.  We visited two chateaux before lunch, Chateau de Flamarens where we took a tour with the owner.  The Chateau de  Flamarens was built in the late 1200’s.  It suffered a terrible fire in 1943 and was abandoned.  It was purchased by a French family about 30 years ago.  They have been working on it ever since, putting on a new turret this year.  Papa and I go to Chateau de Flamarens several times each summer for concerts.  

Chateau de Gramont was built in the early 1200’s by a noble family and it stayed in private hands and was well cared for until 1979, when it was donated to Caisse Nationale des Monuments Historiques.  It has an amazing collection of tapestries and a beautiful garden.

We had lunch at L’Auberge de Tournecoupe, then returned to Lectoure for the afternoon.  Ornella and I climbed the Cathédrale tower and enjoyed the 360 view of Lectoure.  We stopped at a friends house to pick fresh figs, pears, and apples, then went to the thermes to soak before dinner.  We enjoyed our fruits with dinner.  

We were up early on Thursday morning, for the drive back to Toulouse airport.  We loved every minute of Ornella and Donato’s short visit!