Auvillar

The circular market hall in the centre of the main square is unique in southwest France. The round stone and timber structure, with its conical roof supported by Tuscan columns, sits within a triangular plaza of arcaded medieval buildings. The proportions, the materials, and the simple elegance of the ensemble are striking. Sit under the hall's roof on a hot afternoon and look out through the columns to the square. This is one of the most distinctive architectural landmarks on Le Chemin du Puy.

The village sits on a promontory and the views from the edge, looking out over the Garonne valley, the river, and the patchwork of fields and orchards below, are panoramic. The remains of the chateau (now a small park) offer the best vantage point. On a clear day, the valley stretches away in both directions, green and golden. The view captures the agricultural richness of this part of France and the gentle, rolling character of the landscape you will be walking through for the coming days.

Auvillar has a long tradition of pottery making, and the small Musee du Vieil Auvillar documents this history alongside the broader story of the village. The local pottery, decorated with distinctive floral and geometric patterns, was once traded throughout the region via the Garonne river. The museum is modest but charming, housed in a historic building near the main square.