Condom is a pretty little town that's bigger than its surrounding villages such as Montréal, Lauraët and Fourcés. We're currently renting a "manoir" or a big country house about 5 minutes from Montréal and about 15 minutes from Condom, and we've been going to Condom almost every day to shop for our big group's everyday needs. Just note though that shops are closed from 12 pm to 2 pm and close at 6 pm. Many shops are closed on Sundays too. Condom has an Intermarché which is a big supermarket that has a small section for clothes and shoes for men, women and children. It also has a gas station. It's closed Sunday, so make sure to get all your shopping done on Saturday. But if you're desperate for food and wine on a Sunday like we were, there is La Panetière which sells pizza, breads, pastries and cakes, and bottles of wine. There is a Halal Epicerie near the river which sells meats and basics such as olives, pasta, couscous, chickpeas and a limited selection of veggies and fruits, and is open on Sundays. You must go to the town's outdoor market on Wednesdays! Parking can be tough to find so drive around and walk to Rue Gambetti in the centre-ville area. You can buy anything from clothes, housewares, hats, furniture, French macarons, fruits and veggies, plants and etc in the market. We bought some macarons (sold by weight), fresh fruit, artisanal jam as gifts to take back home, clothes from Italy, and German beer (blonde and amber). All the restaurants, cafes and stores in downtown Condom are also open. Take a pic of the beautiful and ancient church in the middle of the centre-ville. There are statues of the The Three Musketeers and D'Artagnan in front of the church which may be of interest to you if you've read Dumas' The Three Musketeers. Condom is in Armagnac country so you must taste and buy this brandy in town. There are more Armagnac houses on the outskirts of Condom, so there are many places to try Armagnac. The town also has two castles worth checking out. We've seen them from a distance but have yet to make a visit. Condom is one of a few French towns in the famous pilgrimage route The Way of St. James or Camino Santiago. The route begins in Le Puy in France and ends in Santiago de Compostella in Spain. If you're in Southwest France, do visit Condom and go to the Wednesday market! Take some cash with you and you should be able to shop for all your needs. Don't forget to make time for Armagnac tasting as well! read more

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