Landlocked Lot-et-Garonne is the agricultural heartland of Aquitaine, rich in orchards, vines, tiny towns and walled villages.

No one village or town jumps off the map as a “must see” although Agen, the provincial capital, manages to rise above the alluring agricultural humdrum and delivers a few surprises for visitors.

The capital is surrounded by orchards of plums that produce around 35,000 tonnes of the world famous pruneaux d’Agen every year. Lusciously plump, they put the wrinkled ones of school dinners to shame. The town is mostly modern, but not unattractive and sits on the Garonne river. Its mild climate makes a visit at any time of the year a pleasantly warmish one.

Business-like boulevards briskly funnel you into the town centre. Rue Beauville makes a good starting point with some attractive medieval houses to explore, close by to Rue Richard Coeur de Lion which guides you along to the Eglise des Jacobins - big and barn-like. In contrast, the church of St Caprais is the finer building - romanesque with several chapels.

	Villeneuve

You can cross the river Garonne by footbridge close to the gardens at Le Gravier where there’s a twice weekly market, on Wednesday and Saturdays - the Saturday one is better.

Star of the town is the pretty Musée des Beaux Arts housed in four 16th and 17th century mansions. On display is a collection of five Goyas and a beautifully proportioned marble Greek statue “Vénus du Mas” discovered nearby in the late 18th century.

Villeneuve sur Lot is a former 13th century bastide where the market still takes place in the central square. The Pont Vieux gives a lovely view over the town.

Nérac sits on the river Baïse and has a quaint medieval quarter. Nearby is a fortified mill and gothic bridge at Barbaste.