Curiosities of Agen, part II !!

Posted in France
I drive you down to a wonderful region of my belle France and its wonders. This time let’s travel to the south the old Aquitaine, now Nouvelle Aquitaine and visit in the Lot et Garonne dept 47, and wonderful Agen. Once again, looking in my vault found me some older paper pictures that should be in my blog, even if quality is not as desire; memories of my road warrior trails forever! Therefore, here is my take on curiosities of Agen, part II !! Hope you enjoy it as I Agen  is a town of thousands years old on the hills of the Ermitage that was the original site of the gallois town of Nitiobroges and a history connected always to the Garonne river. The town today is about 140 km from Bordeaux and 115 km from Toulouse. It is 611 km from my house, The museum of fine arts or beaux-arts founded in 1876 is house in four wonderful mansions of the Renaissance style open to interior courtyards. Installed in the heart of the historic district of Agen, the Museum of Fine Arts is one of the most important museums in the Southwest by its richness and diversity. He is renowned for his masterpieces of Goya (including the self -portrait), his Venus du Mas (Roman period), his tintoret (Venetian Renaissance), discovered during the inventory of collections in 1997 and his impressionist canvases (Sisley , Corot…). The museum is installed on five levels in four mansions of the 16-17C which reveal their architectural wealth during the visit: Renaissance screw staircase, interior courses, fireplaces, period furniture … More than 3,000 objects y are permanently exposed in 26 rooms, like a rich cabinet of curiosity. Agen musée des beaux arts front jul10 The Hôtel de Ville of Agen is the former presidal. It is located on Place du Docteur Esquirol, between rue Chaudordy and rue de Cessac. On the site of the current City/town hall was the Château de Monrevel, one of the two castles which defended Agen, outside the first enclosure, The city hall was first close to the palace of the ‘Bishop and Saint-Etienne Cathedral, near the ramparts, probably where the rue de la Grande-Horloge joins rue des Cornières. The cadastre of 1566 indicates that the city hall was then inserted between the house of Lucas de Barilhart, bookseller, and the house of estrades. The common house is located west of the Hôtel d’Estrades. In 1790, a plan was made for the installation of departmental administrations in the house of the king, In 1808, a decree of Napoleon I decided that the city of Agen has the property of the totality of the city hall after the setting of the new courthouse, in 1869, the City hall left the Hôtel d’Estrades and will occupy the former presidal. The council room is then decorated with a bust and ten portraits at the foot of illustrious men from Lot-et-Garonne, Agen hôtel de ville front jul10 The Episcopal Palace of Agen, today the prefecture of the department of Lot-et-Garonne, is located around the Place de Verdun, rue Étienne-Dolet, and rue Maréchal-de-Latre-de-Tassigny. The foundation stone was laid on June 19, 1775. The bishop was unable to occupy the new bishopric until 1783 , This building changed during the French revolution to become the seat of central schools, then of the fourth cohort of the Legion of honor and, in 1809, the Hotel of the Prefecture of Lot-et-Garonne as of today. Agen prefecture ancienne palais episcopale jul10 The city of Agen on its heritage:  https://www.agen.fr/mes-loisirs The Agen tourist office on its heritage: https://www.destination-agen.com/nos-belles-pierres/ The official Musée des Beaux-Arts of Agen : https://www.musee-agen.fr/welcome-to-the-museum-of-fine-arts-of-agen There you go folks,a brief but good me think presentation of a lovely historical town of France and not many tourist yet oh well read the story and you will be there too. Again, hope you enjoy this post on curiosities of Agen, part II as I And remember, happy travels, good health and many cheers to all !!!
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Published by pedmar10

I am a lover of travels to Europe , Americas , Africa and Asia as well ,who like to share my experiences of the last 53 years with the world, visiting so far 81 countries; living in 6, working in 5, and Citizen of 4, speaking fluently 4 languages. I can deal with sports especially football/soccer and love music, arts, wine collector/drinker, and go out to restaurants, and just visit the world. My background comes all the way from Candelaria and Pajara in Tenerife, Spain where my grandparents came from ;not knowing each other then, to Punta Brava, west of Havana, Cuba. There , my parents born in Cuba met and later on I was born there too. 100% guanche (annexed Tenerife to Spain on April 10 ,1496). I left Cuba as many have to Madrid, Spain where I lived for 4 years. Then, move to Perth Amboy ,New Jersey USA (living there 13 yrs) ; where I completed high school, became a US Citizen, learned to drive a car, and learned English. Afterward, went to the university in Florida, ERAU, and upon graduation decided to moved there to Ormond by the Sea, near Daytona Beach, finally moving North Miami, then Hialeah, then another moved to Silver Lakes division in Miramar, Broward county, Florida; in Florida I lived a total of 18 years. Finally , moved to France in 2003 ,Versailles call me for its royalty, and working in Paris was great. It was time to seek frontiers again and moved to Brech near Auray, Morbihan in Brittany , and later move to not too far Pluvigner. Total so far in France has been 20 years, and counting. Moving average a home every 5.5 years hopefully this will be my last. Cheers All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of the copyright holder, me. No part of this work may be modified, without the written permission of the holder, me.No part of this work may be exposed to public view in any form or by any means, without identifying the holder as the author, and with the before mentioned permission.

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