Lectoure

Lectoure
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Coat of arms of Lectoure Coat of arms
Lectoure
Location within Midi-Pyrénées region Lectoure
Coordinates:
Country	France
Region	Languedoc-Roussillon-Midi-Pyrénées
Department	Gers
Arrondissement	Condom
Canton	Lectoure
Government
• Mayor (2008–2014)	Gérard Duclos
Area1	84.93 km2 (32.79 sq mi)
Population (2008)2	3,746
• Density	44/km2 (110/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	32208 / 32700
Elevation	68–223 m (223–732 ft) (avg. 182 m or 597 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Lectoure (French pronunciation: ​[lɛktuʀ]; Occitan: Leitora [lejˈtuɾɔ]) is a commune in the Gers department in the Midi-Pyrénées in southwestern France.

It is located 32 km (20 mi) north of Auch, the capital of the department, 30 km (19 mi) south of Agen and approximately 76 km (47 mi) northwest of Toulouse.

History

Lectoure was a prehistoric oppidum, capital of Lactorates.The barbarian invasions successive forcing residents to reconsider the height, to raise the walls and make Lectoure a stronghold for centuries.

Geography

The village is located on the right bank of the Gers, which flows north through the western part of the commune. The river Auroue forms part of the commune's southeastern and northeastern borders.

Population

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1962	3,908	—
1968	3,950	+1.1%
1975	3,790	−4.1%
1982	3,923	+3.5%
1990	4,034	+2.8%
1999	3,933	−2.5%
2008	3,746	−4.8%

Sights

Lectoure has been designated as a "town of art and history" (French: Villes et Pays d'Art et d'Histoire) by the French Ministry of Culture and Communication since 1985. The town hall was built between 1676 and 1682 by bishop Hugues de Bar.

Way of St. James

Lectoure is a town on the Via Podiensis, one of the three major French arms of the Way of St. James. This route is followed by those making the pilgrimage from Le Puy by way of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago de Compostella in northwest Spain. Pilgrims arrive at Lectoure after Miradoux and next pass through La Romieu.

Cuisine

Locally produced Armagnac and foie gras are available and popular delicacies.

Personalities

• Pierre Charron
• Pey de Garros
• Joseph-Louis Lagrange
• Jean Lannes
• Paul Noël Lasseran
• Antoine de Roquelaure

See also

• Lectoure Cathedral
• Communes of the Gers department

References

• INSEE

External links

• Official website
• Lectoure on the map of France
• Via Podiensis Map
• The Way of St. James French website