Barran

Coordinates: 43°37′03″N 0°26′37″E / 43.6175°N 0.4436°E / 43.6175; 0.4436

Barran is a commune in the Gers department in southwestern France.

It is located on the river Baïse 15 km (9.3 mi) from the capital of the Gers department, Auch.

Barran is a typical example of a bastide, those villages that were erected in Gascony in the late Middle Ages. It was founded by the end of the 13th century. It is well known in the region for the very unusual helical shape of the tower of its church. Not in the village itself but still on the territory of the commune (the third largest of the department in surface area) are several interesting places, like the castle of Mazères, which was the summer residency of the bishops of Auch and then a military hospital during World War I. Close to the castle is the bridge of Mazères, which was built around the 16th century over the river Baïse. In the 19th century Barran was famous for its snails, from which special gums were made to prevent people from coughing.