Le Houga

1 - Gérard Lannelongue-the welcoming committee's contact - © Franck Cazalas

2 - Pierre Guichané, born in 1946-Mayor of Le Houga since 2001
President of the Bas-Armagnac Community of municipalities - © Franck Cazalas

3 - The Welcoming Committee of Le Houga - © Franck Cazalas

4 - Church Saint-Pierre in Le Houga - © Franck Cazalas

5 - Equestrian centre - © Monique Danné

6 - Outdoor centre - © Monique Danné

7 - The "course landaise" in Le Houga - © Monique Danné

8 - "The course landaise" in Le Houga - © Monique Danné

9 - Le Houga's school - © Monique Danné

10 - The church of Toujun - © Monique Danné

11 - Lake of Le Houga - © Monique Danné

12 - Lake of Le Houga - © Monique Danné

13 - Le Houga's municipal building - © Franck Cazalas

14 - Computers room - © Monique Danné

15 - The altarpiece of Saint-Pierre's church - © Monique Danné

16 - The public square of Le Houga - © Franck Cazalas

17 - The transhumance in Le Houga - © Monique Danné

18 - Judo competition in Le Houga - © Monique Danné

19 - Wild boars and deers farm in Le Houga - © Henri SAINT-LANNES

20 - Wild boars and deers farm in Le Houga - © Henri SAINT-LANNES-membre du CLA Le Houga

21 - Wild boars and deers farm in Le Houga - © Henri SAINT-LANNES-membre du CLA Le Houga

22 - Wild boars and deers farm in Le Houga - © Henri SAINT-LANNES-membre du CLA Le Houga

23 - Food tasting in the Wild boars and deers farm in Le Houga - © Henri SAINT-LANNES-membre du CLA Le Houga

24 - Wild boars and deers farm in Le Houga - © Henri SAINT-LANNES - membre du CLA Le Houga

25 - Wild boars and deers farm in Le Houga - © Henri SAINT-LANNES - membre du CLA Le Houga

26 - Le Houga bull-fighting arenas - © CLA Le Houga

27 - Aerial view of Le Houga - © Photo de Jean-Bernard Laffitte-Droits CEEI/CCI

28 - Aerial view of the bullring - © Photo de Jean-Bernard Laffitte-Droits CEEI/CCI

29 - Aerial view of the lake of Le Houga - © Photo de Jean-Bernard Laffitte-Droits CEEI/CCI

30 - Domaine de Benquet-Equestrian Centre - © Photographie de Jean-Bernard Laffitte-Droits CEEI/CCI

31 - Equestrian Centre - © Photographie de Jean-Bernard Laffitte-Droits CEEI/CCI

32 - The Church Saint-Pïerre - © Photographie de Jean-Bernard Laffitte-Droits CEEI/CCI

33 - The Church Saint-Aubin - © Photographie de Jean-Bernard Laffitte-Droits CEEI/CCI

34 - Castle of Pesquidoux - © Monique Danné-CLA Le Houga

35 - Choral group - © CLA Le Houga/CEEI Gers-Gascogne

36 - Children's room at the Library - © CLA Le Houga/CEEI Gers-Gascogne

37 - Fishing competition - © CLA Le Houga/CEEI Gers-Gascogne

38 - Remote control sailboat on the lake - © CLA Le Houga/CEEI Gers-Gascogne

39 - Gathering of the foyer rural (different associations) - © CLA Le Houga/CEEI Gers-Gascogne

40 - Mini-market in the village - © CLA Le Houga/CEEI Gers-Gascogne

41 - Flea-market - © CLA Le Houga/CEEI Gers-Gascogne

42 - Flea-market - © CLA Le Houga/CEEI Gers-Gascogne

43 - Street market during the local celebrations - © CLA Le Houga/CEEI Gers-Gascogne

44 - The "Novillada" - © CLA Le Houga/CEEI Gers-Gascogne

45 - The local "Banda" - © CLA Le Houga/CEEI Gers-Gascogne

46 - Neighbourhood meal - © CLA Le Houga/CEEI Gers-Gascogne

The Mayor : Pierre Guichané, born in 1946-Mayor of Le Houga since 2001
President of the Bas-Armagnac Community of municipalities

Mayor's speech

I grew up in the Gers countryside. I worked my whole life and founded my family in Le Houga and this is where I want to spend the rest of my life. The village, in the heart of Gascogne, is, like its inhabitants, attached to its history, its cultural inheritance, its values. Le Houga blends the traditional pleasures of rural life but is open to progress and modernity. Welcome to Le Houga! The early birds will get the best seats but for the others... we will find! You can contact us at: le-houga@wanadoo.fr

The Welcoming Committee of Le Houga
Contact : Gérard LANNELONGUE

"I was born in Le Houga and I have never left the village since then. I used to be a farmer and I have always been involved in several associations of the village. Today, although I am nearing retirement, I am happy to take part in the Soho Solo action in order to assist newcomers in their settlement in Le Houga. All the members of the welcoming committee and I will be delighted to inform you and guide you. Welcome to Le Houga!"

Shops and craftsmen

• - 1 bakery(s) - 1 slaughter(s) - 2 bar(s) - 1 grocery(s) - 1 press(s) - 3 restaurant(s) - 1 market place(s) - 10 skilled workmen - 2 bed and breakfast(s) - 3 gite(s) - post - 10 km to a department store

Day care

• Child minding.
• Day-nursery There are 7 childminders in the village; a leisure centre for children is also associated with the school (open from 7h30 each school day until 18h30 and on Wednesday evenings).

Schools

• Nursery school (sur place)
  2 class(es)
  17 élèves
  Spécialité : effectif total:35
• Primary school (sur place)
  3 classes
  17 élèves
  Spécialité : CP:18/CE1-CE2:13/CM1-CM2:21 -anglais
• Comprehensive school -Cité scolaire de Nogaro (à 14 Km)
  http://pedagogie.ac-toulouse.fr/lyc-d-artagnan-nogaro/
  
  -Cité Gaston Crampe à Aire-sur-l'Adour (à 11km)
  -Cité regroupant collège, lycée, LP et 5 sections de techniciens supérieurs
  Mail :
  Lp.GCrampe.AireSurLAdour@ac-bordeaux.fr
  Spécialité : -Nogaro : mécanique auto de compétition
  
  Transport
• Secondary school
  -Cité scolaire de Nogaro (à 17 Km)
  http://pedagogie.ac-toulouse.fr/lyc-d-artagnan-nogaro/
  mail : 0320025D@ac-toulouse.fr
  
  -Cité scolaire Gaston Crampe à Aire-sur-l'Adour (10km)
  mail : Lp.GCrampe.AireSurLAdour@ac-bordeaux.fr http://www.gcrampe.fr/
  
  Spécialité : -Nogaro : Lycée général et professionnel; Section d'Enseignement Général et Professionnel Adapté Lycée professionnel : CAP APR, BEP VAM, BEP MVP, BEP ELEC, BEP MSMA, BAC PRO MEI, ELEEC et MVA, la FCIL
  
  -Aire-sur-l'Adour:sections générales (L, ES, S), technologiques (sciences et techniques industrielles génie mécanique et génie électrotechnique) et professionnelles (brevet d'études professionnelles, baccalauréat professionnel)
  Transport

Association

• CLUB DU TROISIEME AGE
  Mme JARDERES Denise
  
• CLUB DE JUDO - JC Folgarien
  Mr SAINT-PE Alain
  
• ACAI
  Mr GOUDENECHE Pierre
  
• CLUB DE CHASSE (ACCA)
  Mr DARBLADE Andre
  DE MARCHI Marc
• LES MAGNOLIAS AMITIE
  Mme CONTRE Madeleine
  
• CLUB TAURIN
  Mr TRUCHAT Janick
  
• ASSOCIATION DES PARENTS D'ELEVES
  Mme RAMIERE Jessica
  
• AFN (Anciens combattants)
  Mr MENDOUSSE Gilbert
  
• COMITE DES FETES
  Mr DUFAU Florent
  Mr BILLEPINTE Mathieu
• PEÑA LA SUERTE
  Mr MANCIET Michel
  
• AMICALE DES SAPEURS POMPIERS
  Mr BARBE Jean Michel
  
• 4 SAISONS (Groupement d'employeurs agricoles)
  Mr LANNELONGUE Gérard
  
• AMIS DES ORGUES
  Mr BOUIX Claude
  
• CLUB DES RETRAITES AGRICOLES (AICRA)
  Mr LABENELLE Hubert
  
• FOLGA ANIMATION
  Mairie
  
• SECOURISTES (ADPC)
  Mr RIGAUT Michel
  
• ANCIENS SAPEURS POMPIERS
  Mr SCAPIN Bruno
  
• BANDA - ECOLE DE MUSIQUE
  Mr DAMINATO Christophe
  
• FOLGAKILT
  Mme MANCIET Aline
  
• SOCIETE DE PECHE
  Mr DUDOUX Michel
  
• FOOTBALL-CLUB FOLGARIEN
  Mr DULIN Eric
  
• BASKET-BALL
  Mr CAUZETTE François
  
• FOYER RURAL
  Mme FITAN Lucette
  
• FOLGATENNIS
  Mr GALABERT Michel
  Mr VERDEJO Jesus
• CAVALIERS DE BENQUET
  Mme PERRON Paule
  
• AMIS DES ARENES
  Mr DUPRAT Georges
  
• ARM
  Mr LAPIAM Guy
  
• HAND-BALL
  Mme MIREMONT Anne
  
• GYM SENSORIELLE
  
  
• Bibliothèque municipale
  Mme FITAN Lucette
  
• Club de Quilles
  Mme FITAN Lucette
  
• Commission du Fleurissement
  Mme FITAN Lucette
  
• Secourisme
  Mme FITAN Lucette
  
• Musique - Piano
  Mme FITAN Lucette
  
• Gymnastique d'entretien
  Mme FITAN Lucette
  
• Couture
  Mme FITAN Lucette
  
• Centre de loisirs
  
  
• théâtre
  Mme FITAN Lucette
  
• INFORMATIQUE
  Mme FITAN Lucette
  
• LIRE ET FAIRE LIRE
  Mme VIDAL Danielle
  
• Espagnol
  Mme FITAN Lucette
  

Health

• Nurse : sur place, 3 infirmière(s).
• Doctor : ( sur place)
  1 medecin(s)
  
• Dentist : -Aire sur l Adour (à 11 km) : 8
  -Nogaro (à 13km): 3
  
• Physiotherapist : ( sur place)
  1 kiné(s)
  
• Hospital : -Centre Hospitalier de Mont-de-Marsan (à 29 km/30 mn)
  
• Chemist's :
  1 pharmacie(s)
  
• Veterinary : -Nogaro : 2 -Aire-sur-l'Adour: 2 cabinets et 1 clinique
  
• Other :
  -taxi médicalisé : 1
  -naturopathe : 1
  -maison de retraite avec 30 places dont 15 patients Alzheimer
  -Institut médico-éducatif dans l'ancien château du Peyran
  

Le Houga has always been and will be more and more open to social and economic diversity. Recent renovation works contribute to the modernisation of the village. In order to welcome new comers (especially the Sohos) and improve veerybody's life, the village has undertaken various projects for the next three years:
-construction of a judo hall,
-refurbishment of the tennis court,
-installation of a traffic circle on the Mont-de-Marsan road,
-construction of 19 social housings units,
-finalisation of housing estates owned by the local council,
-housing estate project near the Nogaro road that will have about 20 lots,
-construction of a private housing estate composed of 11 lots

47 - Church Saint-Pierre in Le Houga - © Franck Cazalas

Le Houga comes from the Latin word 'folgarium' which means the 'place where bracken grows'. At the gates of Bas-Armagnac, between the vastness of the Landes forest, full of pine trees and the vine covered hills of the Gers, the village is located on a narrow and steep slope from east to west. Le Houga used to be a 'castelnau' (housing organized around fortresses, castles or churches from the 11th to the 13th century)and the fortified village was created in the 12th century and belonged to the County of Armagnac until its incorporation into the French crown in 1607. You can still see the Saint-Pierre Church porch tower and the Street of the Black Prince dating back to the end of the Middle-Age period; the village is not close anymore since the demolition of the last gate in 1775.
Today, you can still admire typical Gascon houses or ancient mansions such as les Arrousets, the Castles of Mau and Lau or the Domaine de Benquet, a huge estate which is now an equestrian centre. The religious architecture also offers an outstanding diversity with the Saint-Aubin Church (listed altarpiece from the 18th century), the Romanesque Church of Toujun with its bell tower and its parlour and the imposing Saint-Pierre Church (Romantic organ listed as a historical monument). Le Houga is willing to move forward : the first World War has taken a heavy toll on the village due to the Resistance movement. It hosted many Italian people, managed to operate agricultural changes and diversify professional activities.
Distinguished people come from Le Houga or lived there: journalists or writers such as Pierre-Sébastien Laurentie, Joseph and Léonce de Pesquidoux, Pierre Aspeteguy, Jean-François d'Estalenx, a music composer, Paul Lacome d'Estalenx, the astronomer Julien Péridier and his wife, Johana Doat, a playwright and Anne Doat (Johanna's daughter), a stage actress.
Le Houga, which provides essential services for daily life, is also active in community programmes: there are many associations which can use the different buildings of the village (Multi-purpose room, Foyer Rural,etc.)
In this pleasant village, you will appreciate the quietness of the countryside, the green of the hills, the woods, the secular oak trees, the lake (which spreads over about 20 hectares) but also the different celebrations all along the year with in particular, the bandas and the different events organized in the bull fighting arena.