Montauban



Montauban is a town and commune of southwestern France in the region Midi-Pyrenées, préfecture (capital) of the Tarn-et-Garonne département, 31 miles (50 km) north of Toulouse. The town, built mainly of a reddish brick, stands on the right bank of the Tarn River at its confluence with the Tescou. The commercial importance of Montauban is due rather to its trade in agricultural produce, horses, game and poultry, than to its industries, which include nursery-gardening, cloth-weaving, cloth-dressing, flour-milling, wood-sawing, and the manufacture of furniture, silk-gauze and straw hats.

HISTORY OF MONTAUBAN
With the exception of Mont-de-Marsan, Montauban is the oldest of the bastides of southern France. Its foundation dates from 1144 when Alphonse Jourdain, count of Toulouse, granted it a liberal charter. The inhabitants were drawn chiefly from Montauriol, a village which had grown up around the neighbouring monastery of St Théodard.

In the 13th century the town suffered much from the ravages of the Albigensians and from the Inquisition, but by 1317 it had recovered sufficiently to be chosen by John XXII as the head of a diocese of which the basilica of St Théodard became the cathedral.

In 1360, at the Treaty of Brétigny, it was ceded to the English; they were expelled by the inhabitants in 1414. In 1560 the bishops and magistrates embraced Protestantism, expelled the monks, and demolished the cathedral. Ten years later it became one of the four Huguenot strongholds under the Peace of Saint-Germain, and formed a small independent republic. It was the headquarters of the Huguenot rebellion of 1621, and successfully withstood an 86-day siege by Louis XIII. It did not submit to royal authority until after the fall of La Rochelle in 1629, when its fortifications were destroyed by Cardinal Richelieu. The Protestants again suffered persecution after the repeal of the Edict of Nantes in 1685.

During World War II, Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa was briefly hidden in a secret vault behind a wine cellar at Montauban.

More informations about the History of Montauban on the Montauban !

WHAT TO VISIT ?
More informations about the places to visit in Montauban on the Montauban and even the Official Website of the Office of Tourism !

Free Internet/Wifi Access
Here are some places where you can find some Internet/Wifi Access:


 * CYBERTHE - Adress: Montauban Services. cite des chaumes Bat I appt 27,28,29. BP 920 82009 Montauban Cedex - Tel: 05 63 91 92 92
 * CAFOP - GRETA du Tarn et Garonne - Adress: 12 avenue Général SARRAIL - Tel: 05 63 91 64 46
 * Bureau information jeunesse (BIJ) - Adress: 6 passage semeziès - Tel: 05 63 66 32 12

COUCHSURFERS
There are about 50 Couchsurfers in Montauban and its area. You can check the CS Group of Montauban or simply a couchsearch to find and contact them.

Meetings
There are sometimes some meetings organised in Montauban, just check the CS Group of Montauban to see what happen in the city and/or the Regional CS Group of Midi-Pyrenées to see if there is any event in the area.

Coffee or a Drink
Here is a list of persons who are ready to have a drink with you and/or show you the city:

How to get to Montauban

 * By Car:
 * By Carpooling: You can find a driver or passenger to share the ride and cut on travel cost. In France carpooling is very popular and is called "covoiturage". Try Envoiture.fr to get to Montauban.
 * By Train:
 * By Plane:

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY


Tel: 17 or 05.63.21.54.00 Police Municipale: 05.63.22.12.22 Tel: 15 Tel: 05.63.92.82.82 Tel: 18
 * Police Station:
 * Health Urgency:
 * Hospital:
 * Fireman Station:
 * Embassy:
 * Emergency Doctor:

INTERESTED LINKS</FONT>
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 * Regional CS Group: Midi-Pyrenées
 * City CS Group: Montauban


 * Montauban on Wikivoyage
 * Montauban on Hitchwiki
 * Montauban on Wikipedia