Issue No. 25

Top right: 14th century Armagnac Tower, above:
Auch Cathedral, right: statue of D'Artagnan,
Grand Escaliers
Never finished, there are no saints on the
facade of the church, but head into the choir
for a sight you’re unlikely to see in any other
church. The originally reserved for religious
members only room full of carved wooden
images features amongst the many saints,
some rather nubile young women, a man
with a bare bottom and other rather worldly
sights. It was, says our guide, “because the
monks who worked here, wanted to keep it
real, to understand their flock, not idealise
life but accept it for what it was...” It is an
incredible piece of work and worth the
couple of euros entry fee to see it.
It's a pleasant city to wander, plenty of
shops, bars and restaurants and winding little
streets with quirky old houses.