The Gers is the central department of Gascony in southwestern France, located just north of the central Pyrenees. It is named for the Gers river, which runs north-south through the department. Its most famous son is the musketeer d'Artagnan. The department is largely agricultural and is the least densely populated department in France. The Gers is sometimes referred to as the French Tuscany because of its gently rolling hills and old villages, including many "bastides" or fortified towns. Principal agricultural products are wheat, corn, soy, and sunflowers. Ducks and geese are also cultivated in abundance, and the region is one of the centers of foie gras production. The department is the center of production and distribution of Armagnac. The region is widely reputed in France for its food ("on y mange bien") but is not well known for its wines. There are two more or less local reds of good quality: Buzet and Madiran. Cuisine centers upon these local products: duck, foie gras, armagnac, prunes. The major cities nearby are Bordeaux to the west and Toulouse to the east. The city of Pau in the Pyrenees lies to the south. The departmental capital is the city of Auch, about 30 miles south of the house in Pouy Roquelaure. The department has a radical socialist tradition.

The climate is described as "warm and oceanic." Winters are mild. Snowfall is extremely rare, and the temperature rarely falls below freezing. Summers are warm. The following are mean maximal/minimal temperatures (Fahrenheit) for the most important months to prospective renters:

Average Temperatures

	May	June	July	August	September
Maximum	71	75	84	81	76
Minimum	48	53	60	59	51

Electrical storms are frequent during the summer.

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