Lectoure

Administration
Commune of Lectoure Lectoure with cathedral from west; road to Condom
Location
Longitude	00° 37' 19" E
Latitude	43° 56' 07" N
Country	France
Region	Midi-Pyrénées
Department	Gers
Arrondissement	Condom
Canton	Lectoure
Statistics
Altitude	68 m–223 m (avg. 182 m)
Land area¹	84.93 km²
Population² (1999)	3,933
- Density (1999)	46/km²
Miscellaneous
INSEE/Postal code	32208/ 32700
¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 mi² or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
² Population sans doubles comptes: single count of residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel).

Lectoure is a commune of the Gers département, in the Midi-Pyrénées of France. It is located 32 km north of Auch, the capital (préfecture) of the Gers département, 30 km south of Agen and approximately 76 km northwest of Toulouse.

[edit] History

Lectoure (Leytoure in Gascon) was a prehistoric oppidum, capital of Lactorates.

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.

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 La Romieu.