History and region
History of the château, the owners before 1997
The picture was made in 1919. You see two well dressed boys in the front garden of the Château.
The text on it says: The Gascogne-LOMBEZ- Château de Barbet ( seventeenth century)
Built by François de Marcelier, lord of Gaujac and exclusively occupied by family Marcelier de Gaujac, the owners.
In 1869 Mademoiselle Marcelier de Gaujac - the sole heir - married Etienne de Scorbiac, thus making the chateau the property of the de Scorbiac family, that came from Montauban.
The interior (mosaics, wall coverings, etc. has been restored in 1872 by Etienne de Scorbiac.
According to the stamp it was sent in 1935, but given the rest of the story, must have been printed years earlier.
The next overview picture of the Château has been taken on 8 September 1935. Look at the left side of the building: there must have been a bay-window or conservatory.
Developments since 1997
Building company Midreth started in 1997 with the renovation of the château and the building - in phases - of 180 villas of the types Campagne, Gers and Barbet de Luxe. 14 July 1998 the first villas were handed over to the new owners. This is an unique develepment for France, and specially for the departement with a quality that is trend setting for a villa parc in the region. In 2004 a 9 holes golf course was added. Recently a development is started of appartment buildings with a view of th golf course and the Pyrenees. The villas in the Parc are suitable for permanent living, some of the owners enjoy the Parc every day of the year. other owners, combined in the rental club, rent out their villas in the periods they don't use it themselves. The Parc caters for all possibilities, for just relaxing to golf arrangements or seminars. The restaurant in the château has a regularly changing menu of top quality.
More pictures of Lombez
Expected.
History of Lombez and Le Pétrarque
Lombez is situated at route D626, in the Save valley.
The Romans already knew Lombez, they called it Lumbarium.
The saint Majan decided to built a chapel here in the 6th century. The Benedictines of Saint-Thibéry built an abbey and convent in the 9th century in Lombez. In 1317 pope Johannes XXII elevates Lombez to become a bishopric. Soon afterwards the building of the cathedral Ste-Marie started.
The famous humanist poet Francesco Petrarca (Pétrarque), whose name is used for our restaurant, spent the summer of 1330 in Lombez as a friend of the bishop. You can find a permanent exhibition about Petrarca in the town hall of Lombez. Nowadays Lombez is still a pleasant, lively, village. You find there ample shops, sports facilities, a library.
The supermarket has a special range of English products.
Recent pictures of Lombez
Region
The region around Lombez - in the departement Gers - is characterised by the hilly landscape with fields of corn, sun flowers and oats. Separated by small clumps of trees, and dotted with Limousin and Dutch black-and-white cows. The small villages have a piece and quiet we remember from long ago. The weekly Monday market in Samatan attracts people from a wide environment, it is highly recommended to visit.
Toulouse is at less than an hour's drive away, well with a trip. This 'ville rose' is recognised by its red-orange bricks and light red roof tiles on many buildings. History is joined by a modern university, space and aircraft industry of Airbus are very important. The Capitole is a must and Salle de Mariage is open on normal week days. Enjoy a coffee or cappuccino at café Albert while looking out over the place du Capitole.
A short list of other possibilies for trips: Lourdes, the Pyrenees with the well know mountain stages of the Tour de France like Col dÁspin and Col du Tourmalet. Auch is the capital of the departement with the statue of d'Artagnan. Did you know that this count d'Artagnan died in battle in 1673 in Maastricht in the Netherlands? The history of the Carthars can be experienced in La Cité Carcassonne and last but not least there is Andorra, still a tax heaven. In short, this part of la douce France has a lot to offer.
