Holiday apartment in Estampes: Pottery studio, washhouse and nature

Estampes between nature, history and craftsmanship

In Estampes, nature, history and craftsmanship come together to create a diverse character. The preserved natural surroundings meet specific areas of work in pottery and regional processing. This character is reflected in the natural environment, buildings, workshop and courtyards. The themes range from historic buildings and working with clay to concrete insights into regional farms and businesses in the area.

Historic heritage at the former Castelnau

The Estampes washhouse is located at the southern end of the former Castelnau. It is still functional, and a wooden staircase provides safe access down into the washhouse. The church of Saint-Barthélemy d’Estampes is also part of Estampes’ built and historic heritage.

Pottery at the Catherine Dacenko studio

The Catherine Dacenko studio offers workshops, courses and training programmes in traditional pottery techniques. These include modelling for everyone and wheel throwing for adults. Catherine Dacenko opens her studio so that visitors can discover pottery. Visitors can explore shaping and working with clay, making a visit to the studio a practical engagement with the material.

Unique, hand-shaped and decorated pieces are created in Catherine Dacenko’s studio. Participants in Catherine’s pottery workshops can take home a piece they have made after several days of drying and firing. The work is therefore created in several stages, from the initial shaping through decoration to the later firing. For planning purposes, it is important to note that your own piece will only be finished after this process.

Traditional processing in Estampes

Since 1987, Josiane Lucantis has continued to raise, force-feed and process ducks and geese in Estampes according to traditional methods and with due regard for animal welfare. At Josiane Lucantis’s farm, visitors can learn about her work, techniques and the family history of the business.

L'Escargot'enpot processes its snails on site and raises them outdoors in organically vegetated surroundings.

Preserved natural surroundings

Estampes has preserved natural surroundings. Visitors can therefore experience a local setting in which nature, history, pottery and regional processing can be perceived as distinct themes. A trip to Estampes can thus include a look at a washhouse or church as well as clay work and agricultural food processing. When planning a visit, different interests can be combined: hands-on work in the studio, historic buildings, and concrete insights into raising and processing on site in Estampes.

More places to discover

If you would like to discover other places in addition to Estampes, here is a compact selection: Tourdun, Castelnau-D'arbieu, Duffort, Tournecoupe, Scieurac-et-Flourès, Arrouède, Solomiac and Cazaux-Villecomtal.

For the broader travel overview: Gers.