Montauban


Each town and village in South-West France has its individual charm and Montauban, originally a bastide on the River Tarn dating back to 1144, with its harmonious ensemble of warm, red brick houses, is no exception. On the same square as my hotel stands the monumental 18th century  Cathédrale Notre-Dame. Another gorgeous symmetrical church is the Église Saint-Orens with its 65 metre high clocher and beautiful Art Deco stained glass windows. The social heart of Montauban around which everything is centred, is La Place National. It is similar to the Place des Vosges in the Marais district of Paris only bigger and better with its outer perimeter in the form of an arched cloister, an inner walkway of cobbled stones and ancient stone pavers in the centre. One can relax here in one of its comfortable lounge bars and enjoy an evening drink or three. Tomorrow I change direction and head west to Agen.


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