Malabat: Landscape, Nature and Cultural Heritage

Malabat is a destination for travelers looking to combine a stay in rural Gers with landscapes, nature and a few distinctive cultural features. The commune lies on a ridge; on a clear day, the unobstructed view stretches across the hills of Gers to the Pyrenees. Malabat is served by departmental road RD 38. Check the current road designation before setting out if you are planning your route.

Landscape and nature in Malabat

The surrounding area includes small roads lined with hedgerows, meadows, wooded areas and family farms. The landscape is well suited to leisurely walks and nature stays. Two nature experiences sit side by side: the expansive views from the ridge and the smaller-scale surroundings, where walks have a peaceful character. When planning your trip, you can decide whether views or a stay focused on walks and nature is more important to you.

Two named ZNIEFF areas have different focuses. The ZNIEFF “Cours de l'Arros” covers most of the Arros floodplain from Gourgue to its confluence with the Adour in Gers and is associated with Malabat. The ZNIEFF “Coteaux de Capvern à Betplan” also concerns Malabat and is classified as a protected site under the 1930 law. The first designation concerns a river and floodplain; the second, an area classified as a protected site.

Otters and European polecats are well represented along the entire course of the Arros. These mammals give the Arros nature theme a specific focus, distinct from the open views and walks in the surrounding area.

Visits and activities

You can visit the village of Malabat independently and free of charge at any time. Check locally before your visit in case access arrangements have changed.

For fishing plans, the situation in the area covered by the management body is important: there is currently no designated fishing route on a river or lake in the area managed by the AAPPMA, which includes Malabat. At the same time, the Arros flows through this area and has good fish stocks. These are different points: good fish stocks do not mean that a designated route exists there. Before making specific fishing plans, check the current designations and local access arrangements.

Cultural details in the town hall

Malabat town hall houses a chalice and a paten made of gilded, repoussé and chased silver. The chalice is richly decorated: medallions with faces appear on the cup and knop, while scenes from the life of Christ adorn the base. The cup is the bowl of the chalice; the knop is the thickened part of its stem. The material and workmanship descriptions apply to both the chalice and the paten, while the motifs mentioned apply to the chalice only.

Discover more destinations: Castéra-Verduzan, Tourdun, Campagne-d'Armagnac, Ligardes, Seysses-Savès, Lamazère, Saint-Puy, Mauroux.

For the broader travel overview: Gers.