Condom, Gers

Condom (kɔ̃dɔ̃), also referred to as Condom-en-Armagnac, is a commune in southwestern France in the department of Gers, of which it is a sub-prefecture.

Way of St. James

Condom is a town on the Via Podiensis, one of the three major French arms of the pilgramage route, the Way of St. James. This particular route begins in Le Puy and ends in Santiago de Compostella in northwest Spain. Pilgrims arrive at Condom after Miradoux and continue on to Larressingle.

Monuments

Condom is the site of two castles, the Château de Mothes and the Château de Pouypardin, both started in the 13th century. (See Castles in Gers for details.) In total, 19 sites in Condom are listed as monuments historiques by the French Ministry of Culture, including the cathedral, churches and houses.

It is known for the production of Armagnac, an international music festival of "bandas", an international chess tournament and an international chess marathon. It is also known for its tourism with farm campings and boating on waterways.

The town was featured in the French film, Le Bonheur est dans le Pré or Happiness is in the Field. The movie features a man leaving his job as a manager of a toilet lid factory and his erstwhile family after he was mistaken for another man on a TV show. He moves to live in Condom with his 'old-new' family who own a foie de canard (duck liver) farm.

John Du Prez, friend of former Python Eric Idle and co-composer with him of Spamalot (musical, 2005) and Not the Messiah (oratorio, 2007), has a cottage in the commune.

See also

• Bishop of Condom
• Condom Cathedral
• Place names considered unusual

References

External links

• City council website
• Ministry of Culture entries for Condom
• Condom Cathedral aerial photo
• Pictures of Condom
• Le bonheur est dans le pré (Internet Movie Database)