Montauban: Museums, Architectural History and PR6 in Fau

Montauban can be explored through its art, architectural history and a trail through the countryside. When planning your stay, you can first consider whether you are more interested in museums and historic buildings, or whether you would also like to make time for a hike. The sights offer specific themes to explore, from Ingres’ work in the cathedral to the collections at the Muséum Victor Brun.

Art and Collections in Montauban

The Musée Ingres Bourdelle celebrates Montauban’s two famous residents, Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres and Antoine Bourdelle. It is housed in the former Bishop’s Palace, bringing together the artistic significance of these two figures and the history of a historic building in one place.

The Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption also brings together architectural and art history. It was built at the highest point in the city after the Wars of Religion. Its artworks include Ingres’ “Le Vœu de Louis XIII,” from 1824. The treasury in the large sacristy was established in 2010 and opened to visitors during tours organized by the CIAP. If you would like to see it, check in advance whether a suitable tour is available.

The Muséum Victor Brun is housed in the former Palais de la Cour des aides. Its collections include birds and mammals, as well as fossils from the phosphorites of Quercy in the Lot department. Another exhibit is a fragment of the Orgueil meteorite, which fell near Montauban in 1864. The range of collection themes spans wildlife and fossils, as well as an event from the area around the city.

Place Nationale and Couvent des Carmes

The history of Place Nationale is closely linked to its reconstruction after a fire. On November 11, 1616, the square burned down; it was subsequently rebuilt in part with brick houses. Reconstruction was completed in 1621. One architectural detail is the arcades: they vary in size, each corresponding to the width of its associated building. This relationship between arcade and house can be seen on the individual buildings.

The Couvent des Carmes also combines a historic building with its own garden. The first monastery was destroyed by Protestants in the 16th century; the rebuilt structure was completed in 1717. The cloister contains a garden with fruit trees, vegetables, medicinal herbs, culinary plants and flowers. This mix of plants sets the garden apart from a purely architectural perspective on the monastery.

Pont Vieux and PR6 – Les vallons du Fau

Pont Vieux spans the Tarn and was completed in 1335. Its 14 arches are divided equally between the river and the land: seven stand over the Tarn and seven over land. This division gives the total number a concrete spatial meaning and is a distinctive feature of the bridge.

If you would like to plan an outdoor walk in addition to visiting the buildings, PR6 – Les vallons du Fau is a described option at the southern tip of Montauban. The route is just under 10 kilometers long, with a stated duration of 2 hours and 30 minutes. Its features include viewpoints, wooded descents, streams and hilltop ponds. These details provide a guide for planning your time; check the current route description and trail conditions before setting out.

This gives you a choice of different focuses for your stay: art and collections, the history of buildings and squares, or a longer route through the countryside. If you are looking for a hotel in Montauban, weighing up these options can help you decide what kind of trip you want.

Discover more destinations: L'honor-De-Cos, Montgaillard, Albias, Montagudet, Castelsagrat, Vazerac, Escazeaux, Mansonville.

Back to the regional travel overview: Tarn-Et-Garonne.