Eauze
The Vía Podiensis
Eauze is the capital of Armagnac and a major resupply town with full services: hotels, gites, restaurants, shops, pharmacy, ATM, tourist office. This is the ancient site of Elusa, capital of the Roman province of Novempopulania ("country of the nine peoples"), which covered roughly modern Gascony.
The town's claim to fame is the Tresor d'Eauze, discovered on October 18, 1985, near the old train station. Workers unearthed 28,054 coins and about 50 pieces of jewelry weighing 120 kg in total -- one of the most important Gallo-Roman hoards ever found in France. The treasure was buried around 261 CE during the instability of the Gallic Empire era. Six gold necklaces, a gold phylactery, bracelets, rings, earrings, intaglios, ivory-handled knives -- the collection now fills the Musee Archeologique. Eauze is part of the three-site ELUSA Capitale Antique complex, together with the Domus de Cieutat in town and the Villa de Seviac near Montreal-du-Gers.
The Cathedrale Saint-Luperc (1463-1591) was the first Flamboyant Gothic building in Gascony and became a model for smaller churches across the Armagnac. The old town center has half-timbered houses, and the Thursday market is worth timing your walk around.
Elusa was the capital of the Elusates, the last Gallic tribe to surrender to Caesar's army in 56 BC during the campaign of Crassus. After Roman administrative reforms in the 3rd century, the city became the capital of Novempopulania, with a bishop based here as early as the 3rd century. Saint Luperculus is said to have served as bishop before his martyrdom. The bishopric remained until the 8th century, when it transferred to Auch. Napoleon named Eauze the capital of Armagnac in 1802.
The Tresor d'Eauze celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2025. Most of the 28,054 coins are silver, and the jewelry includes some of the finest surviving examples of 3rd-century Roman goldwork in France.
Accommodation in Eauze.
| Gîte d´étape communal d'Eauze 11€ 23 |
| Gîte d´étape l'Estanquet 26*€ 8 Booking.com |
|
| Gîte-Accueil Chrétien Béthanie Donativo€ 8 |
|
| Gîte d´étape L'Elus'Halte 15€ 8 |
|
| Gîte La Grange de Marie-France 18€ 14 |
|
| Gîte et chambre d'hôtes Chez Nadine 40**€ 9 |