Montauban discovery course

In 1685, Louis XIV decided to build a gigantic cathedral to assert his power and mark the victory of the Catholic religion.Built at the highest point of the city in the aftermath of the Wars of Religion and bearing the arms of the King of France on its pediment, the cathedral symbolizes the all-powerful Catholic monarchy over the formerly rebellious Protestant city. Consecrated in 1739, it is the work of three successive royal architects: François d'Orbay, Jules Hardouin-Mansart, and Robert de Cotte. The four statues of the Evangelists on the façade are copies of works by the sculptor Marc Arcis. Having deteriorated badly, the original works were removed to the cathedral's interior. The interior contrasts sharply with the aesthetics of the Saint-Jacques church: the tall windows, adorned with white glass, flood the nave with light, further accentuated by the light-colored whitewash on the walls. The cathedral houses remarkable furnishings, including a walnut organ (17th century), an 18th century pulpit, and a Napoleon III canopy (19th century). In the north arm of the transept, one of Ingres's major works, The Vow of Louis XIII (1824), is enthroned. In 2010, a treasure trove was created by the State in the great sacristy, open during guided tours organized by the CIAP.

Located on the 1st floor of the former Jesuit college under the City and Country of Art and History label, the Heritage Center offers visitors the opportunity to discover the history and heritage of Montauban.Opened in 2008, the heritage center is located around the main courtyard of the former Jesuit college. It brings together in one place the administration of the heritage service, an educational space for young audiences, a documentary resource center and two large exhibition rooms. The permanent exhibition "Montauban, portrait of a city" tells the story of the city's destiny from its founding until today, around a relief map of the territory. Deposits of objects from the collections of the Ingres Bourdelle museum and the Montauban hospital center enrich this visit. A children's area also offers treasure hunts, memory games and dominoes for a fun discovery of Montauban. This set is completed by thematic temporary exhibitions. The heritage center coordinates all of Montauban's initiatives under the City of Art and History label and offers guided tours, exhibitions, conferences and activities all year round for Montalbanians, tourists and schoolchildren. All guided tours are led by tour guides from the heritage center. Approved by the Ministry of Culture and Communication, they give you all the keys to understanding the history of the city, its architecture and its heritage. Entrance to the exhibition spaces is free. Montauban, my elsewhere. Literary walk to listen to. The writer Mouloud Akkouche wrote a fictional text testifying to his wanderings and his outlook on our city. This text, which is the subject of a recording, is available for listening, to discover Montauban in the footsteps and in the words of the author. MP3 audio file for download at www.centredupatrimoine.com. MP3 player and headphones available on loan at the Heritage Center against delivery of an identity document.

The archives attest that a church had been built on the left bank of the Tarn around 1320, but the name of Saint-Orens, bishop of Auch in the 5th century, suggests a much older foundation, probably before that of Montauban (1144).With the exception of the bell tower, the church, inaugurated in 1891, is the work of diocesan architect Léopold Gardelle. In 1930, it survived the flood that partially destroyed the Villebourbon district. Paradoxically, this disaster allowed the building to be completed: thanks to the generosity of the Paris city hall towards the devastated city, the bell tower could finally be built by the architect Germain Olivier. At 65m high, it is considered the tallest in the department. The church houses an exceptional set of Art Deco stained-glass windows created by master glassmaker André Rapp.

Today it houses the Tourist Office, the Department of Cultural Development and Heritage, the Dance Conservatory and the CIAP (CENTER FOR THE INTERPRETATION OF ARCHITECTURE AND HERITAGE)Arriving in 1629 following Richelieu, the Jesuits acquired a private mansion on the northeastern edge of the city in 1676 to build their new college and chapel (now the Church of Saint Joseph). Enlarged several times, the building was organized around two courtyards, which were flanked by gardens that have now disappeared. Transformed into a cannon foundry during the Revolution, the building then returned to its teaching function until 1961.

Along with the Old Bridge, it is the only medieval vestige of the city ...Nothing remains of the first church built in the 12th century, which was rebuilt in the following century by the great Montalbanese families, in expiation for their sympathies for the Cathars. An exemplary monument of southern Gothic architecture, it has a vast single nave vaulted on ribbed vaults, narrow windows, a polygonal apse and a Toulouse-style bell tower. Transformed during the Wars of Religion into a watchtower (bell tower), saltpeter manufacturing workshop (nave) and fort (choir), the church still bears the impacts of the cannonballs of the siege of 1621 on the façade. After the Catholic reconquest (1629), Cardinal Richelieu, the king's minister, ordered the ruined parts of the church to be rebuilt identically. It even became a cathedral for a time (1629-1739), the old one having been destroyed in 1561. Augmented by side portals in the 18th century, its façade received a neo-Romanesque decoration in the 19th century, while the nave and choir were adorned with wall decorations.

A must-see in the heart of the city since 1144 and the origins of Montauban.The city center, where most of the streets of the old town converge, boasts one of the oldest urban squares in France. A center of public life, it has long housed municipal (consular house, proclamation marker) and judicial (pillory) powers. Today, its commercial function remains, which has been its true raison d'être for nearly nine centuries. Ruined by two fires in 1614 and 1649, the square was completely rebuilt thanks to royal generosity and the will of the consuls. This major project was completed in the early 18th century. The alignment of the facades punctuated by monumental pilasters, the systematic use of brick, and the vaulting of the roofs over ribbed vaults reflect the desire to unify the architecture, facilitate air circulation, and make the houses less vulnerable to fire. Between 1999 and 2009, the facades were completely restored, revealing a prestigious monumental ensemble. The renovation of the façade, which began in 2021, and its inauguration in July 2022 complete a vast program to enhance this architectural gem, where residences, commercial and cultural activities coexist harmoniously...

At the end of the central avenue stands the imposing Monument to the Dead of the 1914-1918 War, designed by Bourdelle.In the second half of the 17th century, bishops and intendants joined forces to make Montauban a modern, well-planned, and airy town. Intendant Nicolas Joseph Foucault created the first public promenade here in 1679. This served a dual purpose: to retain the land that was collapsing along the Tarn and to provide the people of Montauban with a recreational area. The promenade, which extends over five hectares planted with elm trees, quickly became a popular spot for the town's elegant society, who enjoyed showing off and strolling there.

Embark on a botanical journey and let yourself be captivated by the scents and colors of the hackberry tree, the Chinese ginkbo biloba and the giant American sequoia.This landscaped garden, inaugurated in 1861, stretches over 3 hectares on either side of the Tescou River. Inspired by romantic gardens, its design combines curved paths, terraces, sculptures, and rockeries. Nearly 400 trees offer a botanical journey, including hackberry trees, Chinese ginkgo biloba, and the giant American sequoia. This one stands on the Land of the Indians, donated to the Osage and Cherokee tribes in 1996 in memory of the ties that bind them to the Montauban people. You may even come across white mulberry trees, famous for the former silkworm industry of the city of Montauban.

The museum presents an important collection of birds from around the world, mammals and fossils that invite you to travel.Located today in the former palace of the Cour des aides, the Victor Brun Museum project was born in 1852, under the will of the members of the Société des Sciences (Agriculture and Belles Lettres du Tarn-et-Garonne), wishing to put their private collections at the disposal of the Montalbanais. Appointed curator in 1857, Victor Brun is a naturalist, but also a member of the Society and holder of most of the collection that makes up the Museum. The museum presents a large collection of birds, mammals, phosphorite fossils from Quercy (Lot) and a fragment of the famous Orgueil meteorite that fell near Montauban in 1864. An overview of the wonders of nature ends with the very beautiful and rich collections of primates, shells and insects. If you are curious, pay attention to the slideshows which present the fauna of the Tarn-et-Garonne and the environment in which it evolves. Your next walks will have no more mysteries for you! Nénette, the newcomer! Since April 2021, the museum has acquired a magnificent brown bear which has quickly become the museum's new mascot.

The Ingres museum showcases two illustrious Montalbanese: Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres and Antoine Bourdelle . This brick building, overlooking the river, is Ingres Bourdelle museum an emblematic place of Montauban.Practical information: health pass compulsory from 03.08.2021 Housed in the old episcopal palace, the Montauban museum was created in 1820. But it was in 1867, upon the death of Ingres, that the establishment took on its identity and its development: the museum then inherited all of the studio works of the famous Montalbanian painter and took the name of Ingres Museum. Enlarged, modernized, digitalized ... the museum is today spread over 2,700 m2 with new spaces, enhanced accessibility, a new museography, a sumptuous conservation cabinet housing Ingres ' drawings, an entire floor dedicated to the Bourdelle's work, magnificent rooms for temporary exhibitions, a tea room / boutique / bookshop ... The digital museum : In order to benefit from the reopening of the museum, a new visiting companion is proposed to you: an application which will allow you on the one hand to access practical information and to book your ticket in advance and on the other hand, enrich your visit with new content. Throughout the year, activities for young people are offered: game booklet, internships, museum holidays, my birthday at the Ingres Bourdelle museum, educational service workshops. "Chez Madeleine" - Bookshop, boutique, tea room : Located on the ground floor of the former episcopal palace, the tea room of the Ingres Bourdelle museum welcomes you throughout the day. In the heart of the tea room, a bookshop-boutique offers you books and objects that will allow you to bring back a memory of your visit to the Ingres Bourdelle museum. (Opening hours identical to those of the museum. Access possible without ticket.) The museum documentation center at 15 rue de ville de ville. This documentation center specializing in the collections of the Ingres Bourdelle museum offers catalogs of collections or exhibitions, French or foreign publications related to them, as well as works files, a photo library and access to the database. Consultation exclusively on site and by appointment. The Association of Friends of the Ingres Bourdelle Museum since its creation in 1924, has supported the promotion of our collections by publishing an annual bulletin, participating in museum acquisitions and offering monthly conferences on cultural themes related to current events in museums and exhibitions. www.amis-musee-ingres.fr OPENING TIME : - Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. - Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. - Closed every Monday, January 1, May 1, November 1 and December 25.

Small Italian theater with 550 seats, nestled in the heart of the city ...From the mid-18th century, the consuls provided Montauban with a performance hall. Too small, it was rebuilt in 1849 in the style of an Italian-style theatre. The opening of Place Lefranc de Pompignan in 1878 freed up the space around the theatre, allowing the construction of a new façade in 1931, replacing the awkward one located on Rue de la Comédie. Inspired by Place Nationale, it is adorned with four bas-reliefs by the sculptor Abbal: Dance, Music, Poetry and Comedy.