In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · France
Auch
Half a day for the cathedral and staircase, then move on. One night only if you want a quiet base for Gers wine and market towns.
Auch is the small capital of the Gers department in Gascony, known for its 15th–17th-century St Mary’s Cathedral, a monumental 370-step staircase and a statue of d'Artagnan. The town is walkable and quiet, best as a lunch stop or a single-night base for exploring the surrounding hill villages and Armagnac country.
- Country
- France
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (heat, crowds), Nov–Feb (many places closed)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR, €). Contactless cards work in most shops, cafés and restaurants.
- Daily spend
- Budget €50–80 excl. bed · Mid €80–130 excl. bed · High €130+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Orange, SFR, Bouygues Télécom and Free sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at tabacs; ID is required to register.
- Emergency
- Police 17 · Fire and ambulance 18 · European emergency number 112
- Plugs
- Types C, E · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin plugs; type E sockets have an earth pin sticking out, so Schuko (type F) plugs need a C/E hybrid or an adapter.
- Tipping
- Café or bar: Leave small change, €0.20–1.; Restaurant: Service is included; leave 5–10% in cash for good service.; Taxi: Round up to the next euro or two.; Hotel porter or housekeeping: €1–2 per bag or per night.; Tour guide: €5–10 per person for a half day, more for private guides.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere unless signed otherwise. Restaurants must serve a free carafe of tap water on request.
- Toilets
- Paris has free automatic public toilets (sanisettes); elsewhere use cafés (buy a coffee), museums and stations, where some charge €0.50–1.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | €1.50–3 |
| Lunch menu (plat du jour) | €12–18 |
| Beer (pint) | €4–6 |
| Glass of Armagnac | €5–10 |
| 5 km (3.1 mi) taxi3.1 mi (5 km) taxi | €10–15 |
| Cathedral entry | Free (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- TLS · Toulouse-Blagnac
- About 1 h 15 min by car or bus; check FlixBus and local coaches.
- PUF · Pau Pyrénées
- About 1 h 30 min by car.
Typical fares
- Toulouse airport → Auch (bus)
- about €20, about 1 h 15 min (check)
- Taxi from Auch station to centre
- €5–10
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk: the old town is compact. For the 380-ha wood (4 km (2.5 mi) from centre) or river walks, you need a car or taxi. Parking is free in some lots outside the centre.Walk: the old town is compact. For the 380-ha wood (2.5 mi (4 km) from centre) or river walks, you need a car or taxi. Parking is free in some lots outside the centre.
See and do
Known for
- St Mary’s Cathedral
- Monumental Staircase (370 steps)
- Statue of d'Artagnan
- Armagnac and Gascon cuisine
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mirande | Car, about 25 min via D929 | About 30 min |
| Marciac | Car, about 40 min via D943 | About 45 min |
| Saint-Mont | Car, about 30 min via D943 | About 35 min |
| Toulouse | Car or bus (FlixBus), about 1 h 15 min | About 1.5 h |
Sleep
- Town centre (near the cathedral)
- Walk to the staircase and main sights; limited parking.
- Lower town (near the river)
- More hotels and B&Bs; a short uphill walk to the old town.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjourbohn-zhoor |
| Thank you | Mercimair-see |
| How much is it? | Combien ça coûte ?kom-byen sa koot |
| Where is the cathedral? | Où est la cathédrale ?oo ay la ka-tay-dral |
| I would like… | Je voudrais…zhuh voo-dray |
| The bill, please | L'addition, s'il vous plaîtla-dee-syon, seel voo play |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Say 'bonjour madame/monsieur' on entering any shop, bus or office; avoid: Asking a question before saying bonjour — it is read as rude
- Cheek kisses (la bise): Follow the other person's lead; one to four kisses depending on region; avoid: Initiating la bise with strangers or in business
- Addressing people: Use 'vous' and titles until invited otherwise; avoid: First names and 'tu' with older people or staff
- Restaurants: Wait to be seated in restaurants; call the waiter 'monsieur' or 'madame'; avoid: 'Garçon', snapping fingers, asking for the bill before you are finished
- Conversation: Debate is a pleasure; food, politics and philosophy are fair game; avoid: Asking about salary or religion; loud voices on trains
- Dinner at a home: Bring flowers (not chrysanthemums), chocolates or a good bottle; arrive 10–15 minutes late; avoid: Cutting the tip off a cheese wedge or asking for ketchup
- Dress: Smart-casual in cities; covered shoulders in churches; avoid: Beachwear in town centres
Scams and watch-outs
- The staircase has 370 steps: no lift; take it slow.
- Cathedral opening hours vary; check the official site before visiting.
- Many shops and restaurants close on Sunday and Monday, especially outside summer.
- Parking in the old town is limited; use the free lots on the outskirts.
Auch is a very safe small town. Normal precautions apply: lock your car, keep valuables out of sight. The main risk is traffic on the narrow streets of the old town.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Auch yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- St Mary’s Cathedral
- Monumental Staircase (370 steps)
- Statue of d'Artagnan
- Armagnac and Gascon cuisine
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Auch, revision 5016340 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5016340
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Auch
À cette adresse, s'il vous plaît
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
The US has an embassy in Paris; the UK has a consulate in Toulouse. Most other countries: embassies in Paris, consulates in Toulouse.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/auch). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.