Near Le Phénix Chambres d'Hôtes - Montauban

(30 minutes from Le Phénix)


Montauban

Montauban deserves more attention that it usually gets, as Toulouse's little pink-brick sister and capital of the 17th century "Protestant Republic" of southern France.

The painter Ingres was born here in 1780 and the town's greatest treasure is the Musée Ingres, an exceptional bequest of several paintings and 4,000 drawings. Part of the museum's collection includes works by sculptor Emile Bourdelle, an associate of Rodin, also from Montauban.


Place Nationale
Above all, Montauban is a civilized shopping centre with a double-arcaded main square (place Nationale) built in the 17th and 18th centuries. A few streets away lies the stark white Cathédrale Notre Dame built on the orders of Louis XIV in 1692, in the backlash against Protestant heresy.

There are three excellent museums to choose from:

The Museum of Resistance and Deportation, The Musée du Terroir (which includes an art collection and popular local traditions) and lastly a Natural History Museum. From Pont Vieux you can see the entire historical old city including the Notre Dame Cathedral.

Useful Links:
Montauban Town Website