DESIGN

La Manufacture
Royale de Lectoure

Lectoure - France

Five rooms in an 18th-century royal tannery below Lectoure’s ramparts, with long breakfasts, quiet gardens and the town a few steps away.

Village Life

Pool

Garden

Massage

Cooking Lessons

Pilgrim' Way

THE SETTING

La Manufacture Royale sits just below the old ramparts of Lectoure, with the town’s main street behind it and the Gers countryside stretching south towards the Pyrenees. The building was created in 1754 by architect Pierre Racine for the Duclos brothers, who wanted to establish one of France’s most important leather tanneries. It later served as a distillery, cinema, dance hall and retirement home before standing empty for around 30 years.

Christèle Ageorges and Hubert Delance first arrived in Lectoure in 2017 while walking part of the Camino de Santiago. They had lived in Paris for three decades and were not actively looking for a new home. Lectoure stayed in their minds, and they returned soon afterwards to visit the abandoned tannery. They bought it in 2018 and moved south to begin the restoration. Working with architect François Muracciole and local craftspeople, they reopened blocked windows, repaired the roof, stripped away later additions and gave the original volumes room to breathe again. Lime plaster, hemp insulation, old timber and natural materials were used throughout.

The building is grand; the experience stays personal. Guests sleep in one wing, have breakfast in the south-facing rooms and walk into Lectoure within minutes.

THE ROOMS

There are five rooms and suites in the east wing, ranging from 32 to 48 m². All have large bathrooms, proper dressing space and a desk. One suite is on the ground floor, while the other four are upstairs. Tilleul is the smallest and looks directly into the branches of the old lime tree. Royale is filled with warmer colours and faces south towards the countryside and the Pyrenees. Joseph and Jardin are both larger suites. Joseph catches the sunset, while Jardin opens towards the garden and is the easiest room to reach. Racine sits inside one of the building’s towers and includes a separate living area.

The rooms feel soft and calm. Christèle developed the colour palette herself, working with limewash specialist Mercadier to create shades inspired by the building and the surrounding landscape. Old furniture and pieces found in Lectoure sit beside contemporary lighting, natural fabrics and a small number of carefully chosen design pieces. The beds are wide, the bathrooms unusually spacious, and the rooms give you plenty of space to unpack and stay for a few days. There are no televisions, and the thick stone walls and interior shutters help keep the rooms cool during summer.

THE FOOD

Breakfast is served in one of the south-facing salons or, when the weather is good, in the garden. It is generous and largely homemade: fresh bread, pastries, eggs cooked to order, local ham and cheese, yoghurt, granola, seasonal fruit, preserves, cake, juice, coffee and tea.

The tableware comes from local ceramicists in Lectoure. It is a small detail, but one that says a lot about the house. Christèle likes knowing where things come from, from the bowl on the table to the jam inside it.

Breakfast rarely feels rushed. The room is comfortable, the coffee keeps arriving, and Christèle is usually nearby with an idea for lunch, a market or somewhere worth visiting that day.

There is no restaurant at the Manufacture. Lectoure has several places within walking distance, and Christèle and Hubert help with recommendations and reservations. Restaurant Racine is one of their regular suggestions.

THE STAY

Guests can use the ground-floor salons, garden and shared spaces throughout the stay. The scale of the building means there is always somewhere quiet to sit. The interiors are simple, but never empty. Books, ceramics, art, vintage pieces and textiles bring warmth to the large rooms. The house feels finished without feeling frozen.

Massages and treatments can be arranged with advance notice. The Manufacture also hosts exhibitions, workshops, retreats, photo shoots and small cultural events during the year.

The former cellars hold a separate pilgrim cottage, created for walkers passing through Lectoure on the Camino de Santiago. It has simple shared rooms, bathrooms and a small kitchen. Its presence keeps the original reason Christèle and Hubert discovered the town very close to the project.

Another wing can be rented as a private house for up to 15 guests, with five bedrooms, a dormitory, its own garden and a private swimming pool. It operates separately from the guest rooms.

AROUND LA MANUFACTURE

Lectoure is one of those small French towns that deserves more than an overnight stop. Built along a ridge above the Gers Valley, it has a long main street lined with old townhouses, shops, cafés and galleries. At one end stands the Cathedral of Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais. On the other, the former Château of the Counts of Armagnac now houses an antiques village with dozens of dealers spread across the old building.

The ramparts, Bishop’s Palace, archaeological museum and Fontaine Diane can all be reached on foot from the Manufacture. Lectoure also has a thermal spa, with warm mineral-water pools, hammam and sauna. Friday is market day. Producers from across the Gers fill the town with bread, vegetables, cheese, fruit, charcuterie and whatever is in season. Lectoure is particularly known for its melon, while the wider region brings duck, garlic from Lomagne, Armagnac and Floc de Gascogne.

The Camino de Santiago passes through the centre on the Via Podiensis route. Even guests who are not walking far can follow a section through the countryside and return for dinner.

La Romieu, Condom, Larressingle, Fourcès, and the Château de Gramont are all easy day trips. The surrounding landscape is made for slow drives: rolling farmland, vineyards, sunflowers, stone villages and long views.

THE OWNERS

La Manufacture Royale is the project of Christèle Ageorges and Hubert Delance.

Christèle spent many years working as an interiors journalist, stylist and set designer. The experience is visible throughout the house, though the rooms never feel staged. She knows how to mix an old chair, a good fabric, a soft wall colour and enough empty space to make everything feel easy.

Hubert was closely involved in the restoration and now shares the daily running of the property. Together, they welcome guests, prepare recommendations and continue developing the Manufacture through exhibitions, gatherings and creative projects. They know the obvious sights, but also the potter, the pastry shop, the quiet courtyard for coffee and the restaurant that is worth booking before everyone else arrives.

GOOD TO KNOW

La Manufacture Royale has five rooms and suites. There is no restaurant, television or air conditioning.

Check-in is from 3:30 pm, and check-out is by 11 am. The property remains open year-round. Families may be accepted by prior arrangement. The building is large and contains stairs, fragile objects and artworks, so parents should discuss their stay with the hosts before booking. Pets are not accepted.

Rates start at €280 per night for a double, including breakfast. A minimum stay of two nights usually applies.