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 was a prehistoric oppidum, capital of Lactorates. Barbarian invasions forced residents to raise the walls and make Lectoure a stronghold for centuries. The town became the capital city of the Earldom of Armagnac, ruled by a powerful family descended from the ancient Dukes of Gascony, who held court at Lectoure. Enemies of the French crown under many pretexts, allies of the English, plotters and traitors, the Armagnacs were eventually eliminated by King Louis XI and the city was largely destroyed.
Sites of interest
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 Marsolan and La Romieu.
- Pierre Charron
- Pierre Feuga, writer, translator
- Pey de Garros
- Joseph Lagrange
- Jean Lannes
- Paul Noël Lasseran
- Antoine de Roquelaure
- Aurélie Soubiran, Princess Ghika (1820–1904), writer.