CONDOM, a town of south-western France, capital of an ar rondissement in the department of Gers, 27 m. N.N.W. of Auch, on the right bank of the Baise, a tributary of the Gironde. Pop. (1931), 4,042. Condom (Condomus) was founded in the 8th cen tury, but in 84o was sacked and burnt by the Normans. A mon astery, built here c. goo by the wife of Sancho of Gascony, de stroyed by fire, was rebuilt in ion by Hugh, bishop of Agen. Round this abbey the town grew up, and in 1317 was made into an episcopal see by Pope John XXII. The line of bishops, which included Bossuet (1668-1671), came to an end in 17go when the see was suppressed. Condom was, during the middle ages, a for tress of considerable strength. During the Hundred Years' War, after several unsuccessful attempts, it was captured and held by the English. In 156g it was sacked by the Huguenots under Gabriel, count of Montgomery.
The streets are small and narrow, with several old houses. The Gothic church of St. Pierre (1506 to 1521), till 17go a cathedral, is without aisles or transept. On the south is a beautifully sculp tured portal. An adjoining cloister of the i6th century is oc cupied by the hotel de ville. The former episcopal palace with its graceful Gothic chapel is used as a law-court. There are a sub prefecture, a tribunal of first instance, and a communal college. The town is the chief centre of the brandy trade of Armagnac.