Marmande knows her favorites well. Heart of beef for gourmets, stone for visitors or rocker for festival-goers, the beauty of Lot-et-Garonne knows how to make everyone agree. Want to discover the other gems of the city? Discover our 12 essential steps!
Step 1: The Tourist Office
Welcome to the so-called Maison du Prince Noire, nestled in the historic heart of Marmande. Between the soul of the country and modernity (touch table, large screens, etc.), the team at the Marmande Tourist Office will inform you about the activities, events and unmissable visits of the Val de Garonne. Not to mention the boutique area and its 100% local products. Guaranteed local souvenir.
More than an office, a local story to listen to and (re)discover.
🍅 Cherry tomato on the cake: Halloween, Christmas or Easter, the Office patio comes alive all year round with the colors of major events. Pumpkin, gingerbread and chocolate: the choice is yours!
Step 2: The Albert Marzelles municipal museum
Open the doors of this building labeled Musée de France to discover the works of the 19th century Marmandais artist Abel Boyé. Its particularity at the time: leather! A modest shoemaker, it was in fact the only material at his disposal to engrave his first portraits. The museum also offers numerous temporary exhibitions throughout the year. There is bound to be one made for you!
Step 3: The House of Memory of Marmande
Individuals, students, researchers or historians: we all have a good reason to (re)discover the Marmande archives! Want to climb your family tree? The Maison de la Mémoire welcomes you all year round to have a chat with your ancestors. Naturally curious? Explore the different facets of the archivist profession and ask all your questions live.
The exhibition Marmande, daughter of Garonne, traces the history of the tomato capital of Aquitaine.
Step 4: Place Clémenceau
Three steps on foot wears out your shoes...Shall we take a break? Ideally located between the main shopping streets of Marmande, Place Clemenceau offers you a pleasant break, refreshed by its fountain or warmed by a coffee. Not far from there, the statue of Ferline with the candy apple poetically recalls the nickname of Marmande: tomato capital! Fleshy and delicious, its legendary taste leaves no one indifferent.
You don't know the story of Ferline?
Step 5: Escape Game “The Museum of Mysteries”
In the heart of Marmande, challenge the cogs and puzzles of the Curator and try to escape from his Cabinet of Curiosities before time runs out! An exciting escape game for curious little ones and adventurous adults alike. Will you be smarter than the owner?
🍅 Cherry tomato on the cake: The Museum of Mysteries offers you ephemeral thematic escape games to keep up with current events all year round. We look forward to the next event…
Step 6: The Saint-Benoît chapel
Classified as a Historic Monument, this 17th century baroque building is surprising for its mix of baroque and classical styles, as well as its remarkable ceiling painted on wood. Stunned by so much beauty? Don’t panic, Saint-Benoît is also the patron… of scouts. First aid provided.
Open only in summer, in the heart of Marmande.
Step 7: The Sacred Art gallery
Faith works wonders. The proof with this collection of superb liturgical pieces exhibited in the old parish library of Marmande. Before your eyes, chalices, monstrances and reliquaries from the 19th and 20th centuries reveal an unsuspected treasure in Lot-et-Garonne. Don't miss Le Chemin de Croix by Rémi Trotereau, the only contemporary work in the exhibition.
Step 8: The cloister garden
Treat yourself to a break in the heart of Marmande, with a visit to this Remarkable Garden attached to the Gothic Cloister of the Notre-Dame church. A break of calm and perfect harmony in this park ordered according to the golden rule of 17th century French gardens. Between two clumps of yew trees, an overhanging terrace and a central pool, you start powdering your wig and calling your subjects to order. An unmissable visit to the Val de Garonne!
🍅 Cherry tomato on the cake: A garden not so cloistered after all, since even Vincent Delerm talks about it in his song Deutsche Grammophon. A nice wink!
Pssst: Plug in your headphones…
Step 9: The Caillade chapel
A 5-minute walk away, enter the 16th century through the main door with the Chapelle Caillade. Formerly the burial place of the Morin de Caillade family, the religious building now displays its polychrome keystones bearing the coat of arms of King Louis XII and its remarkable glass and stained glass windows. Sharp eye ? You have already spotted the angels, the jester and the letters alpha and omega which adorn his bases.
Step 10: The restaurant l’Ô à la Bouche
Nestled in old Marmande, between bricks and a glass roof, the restaurant enjoys the luxury of an exceptional view of the bell tower of Notre-Dame church. In the kitchen, local native and master restaurateur Florent Saint-Marc offers you inventive, tasty French cuisine proud of its terroir. The duck breast rossini should be imitated.
Step 11: The Tour du Passeur and rue Labat
The eventful past of Marmande sometimes resurfaces throughout your tour, like the Chemin de Ronde du Caillou behind the Notre-Dame Church and its remains of medieval fortifications. There stands the Ferryman's Tower, a former lookout post once responsible for preventing a possible assault on the ramparts.
U-turn, turn right! Here you are at the entrance to the wide rue Labat and its authentic 16th century half-timbered houses, witness to the prosperity of Marmande during this period. An era that is remarkably illustrated by No. 37 and its beautiful residence. Its stone ground floor decorated with a braced arch and its two corbelled floors with wooden posts finely carved with Gothic fleurons are worth a look.
Step 12: The Filhole
With its countryside feel in the city, La Filhole is the perfect relaxing break for little ones and parents. 5 minutes from the city center, playtime can begin! Playgrounds, mini-golf, skate park, orienteering course or even a developed beach, free and supervised all summer, there is no shortage of great activities.
Bonus step 13: for a green shot
The Gardens of Beauchamps
The Val de Garonne never ceases to amaze you. A titanic family project, this garden center now labeled Jardin Remarquable offers you a journey into the vegetation of the four corners of the world in Marmande. Patio atmosphere, Zen garden or palm grove: goodbye France, hello holidays abroad!
