Tucked away in the rolling green hills of the Lot-et-Garonne, the small town of Nérac seems an unlikely place for a history so rich in extravagance, extramarital flings and religious wars.
Nérac saw several hundred years of glittering splendor and at its pinnacle the lavishness of its royal court matched the courts of Paris. During the late 16th century King Henri IV brought numerous lovers, eminent nobles and distinguished writers, musicians and poets here, creating a golden era that lasted until 1599.
Henri's wife, Queen Margot, finally got tired of his extracurricular activities and had their marriage annulled. Shortly thereafter Henri packed up the court and moved it to Paris, thus ending the good times in Gascony.
What remains of the Château, including its graceful Renaissance gallery, can be visited year-round.
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