Montauban

Visit Montauban, Midi-Pyrenees

Montauban is a historical bastide town situated about 50 kilometres north of Toulouse in the Tarn et Garonne department. The town, founded in 1144 by the Count of Toulouse on the banks of the Tarn River, is largely constructed using the attractive pink stone found in the region, like its great southern cousin Toulouse.

Explore Montauban

The highlight of the town is at the centre of the original bastide in the Place Nationale. Surrounded by grand pink houses in the red-brick that is unique to this part of France, and set above fine arcades,  Montauban has a very attractive central square (the square was largely rebuilt in the 17th century after a fire, hence is not the original bastide centre).

The arcades (the arches and walkways that surround the square and historically provided shelter for the market traders are an unusual 'double' construction - one set of arcades near the house/shop fronts and another closer to the main square. Intact on all four sides, this central square in Montauban is one of the most impressive to be seen in all of the bastide towns of south-west France.

After perhaps stopping for a pause in one of the cafes in the town centre be sure to wander around the surrounding streets a little. Following the traditional grid pattern of a bastide town, the straight streets of Montauban town centre around the centre now form a lively shopping centre, with lots of interesting features and buildings to discover.

Keep exploring until you reach the river and a chance to see the lovely old bridge - and old it is, having being built around 1303-1335, much older than most 'old bridges'!

The tourist office in Montauban is also in an attractive red-brick building that was originally a Jesuit College dating from the 17th century, although a significant part of the building is a result of later additions and modifications following fire damage.

Religious monuments

Among the highlights in Montauban you will discover the Church of Saint Jacques - an attractive 13th century church with a square tower and an impressive mosaic entrance that survived the fires that later destroyed much of the town centre.

Another religious monument, the Cathedral of Notre-Dame (1739)  is in a classical - baroque style with four statues on the facde and notable as being one of the few buildings in the centre to be built from stone. Inside the cathedral you can see a 17th century organ and an important painting by Ingres.

Other places of interest in Montauban

One notable attraction here in Montauban is the Museum Ingres (next to the old bridge), where you can see the works of renowned 19th century artist Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres and another local artist called Bourdelle. The museum is found in the palace that has been built on the site of an earlier palace that was occupied by the Black Prince during the Hundred Years War, and you can see remains of the original building in the basement of the Museum.

Other museums in Montauban are dedicated to Resistance and deportation during World War 2; and the Museum Victor brown, dedicated to natural history and paleontology.

Note: Montauban doesn't perhaps create the best impression on arrival, due to development around the edges of the old town, but when you start to explore you will quickly discover that the town centre is very impressive.

Photos of Montauban (click any picture to start the gallery)

Tourist classifications for Montauban: Village in bloom (ville fleurie) 3*; Listed town of Art and History; 'Historical protected town centre' (secteur sauvegardé);

Suggested places to visit near Montauban, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Auvillar 37km; Castelsagrat 37km; Brassac 37km; Montjoi 40km; Bourg de Visa 41km; Beaulieu en Rouergue Abbey 45km; Gaillac 46km; Beauville 47km; Cahors 47km; Toulouse 47km; Puymirol 48km; Gramont Chateau 48km; Cordes-sur-Ciel 48km; Tournon d'Agenais 51km; Frespech 53km; Najac 54km;

See these places and more on a map at places near Montauban

Montauban tourism: sights and attractions nearby

Eglise et cloitres de Saint Pierre (Moissac) - religious monument (23km) : Cayriech - ville fleurie 4* (30km) : Jardin du Pèlerin - remarkable garden (31km) : Jardin et parc du château de Larra - remarkable garden (33km) : Parc du château de Merville - remarkable garden (34km) : Abbaye de Saint Maurin (Saint-Maurin) - religious monument (42km) : Eglise de Notre-Dame (Lacour) - religious monument (44km) : Jardin des Martels - remarkable garden (45km) :

French version: see Montauban (Francais)