Montauban history

Foundation and First Mentions

The history of Montauban begins in 1144. The city was founded by Alphonse Jourdain, Count of Toulouse. This event holds special historical significance, as Montauban is considered one of the first bastides—medieval new towns with a grid layout that were built extensively across southwestern France during the 12th–14th centuries.

Key Development Factors

The development of the city was driven by a combination of strategic decisions and geographical advantages:

• Political Will: The Count founded the city to consolidate his power in the region and create a counterweight to the influential Montauriol Abbey located nearby. Residents were granted significant privileges and freedoms, enshrined in a charter, which stimulated an influx of population.
• Geography: Montauban is situated on the high bank of the River Tarn. This location provided natural protection against raids and offered access to waterways connecting the region with Bordeaux and the Atlantic.
• Urban Planning: Unlike the chaotic development of older cities, Montauban was built according to a clear plan with streets intersecting at right angles and a central square.

Early Cultural and Economic Features

The economy of the young city quickly prospered thanks to trade. The central square (now the Place Nationale) became the heart of commercial life, where merchants traded grain, wine, and textiles. The River Tarn served as the main transport artery for the export of goods.

The cultural appearance of Montauban from its early years was defined by the absence of natural stone in the vicinity. Residents used available clay for brick production. It is this material that gave the city its characteristic pinkish-red hue, linking its architecture to that of neighbouring Toulouse.

The Middle Ages and the Era of Religious Wars

• 1144: Count of Toulouse Alphonse Jourdain founds Montauban, which becomes one of the first bastides (new fortified towns) in Europe.
• 1303: Construction begins on the monumental Old Bridge (Pont Vieux) across the River Tarn, which became a symbol of the city.
• 1360: Under the terms of the Treaty of Brétigny, the city comes under English administration during the Hundred Years' War, remaining under their rule for over 50 years.
• 1561: City authorities officially adopt the Reformed faith, turning Montauban into one of the main Huguenot citadels in the south of France.
• 1621: The city's residents successfully withstand a three-month siege by the royal army of Louis XIII, defending their religious independence.
• 1629: Following the capitulation of La Rochelle, the city surrenders to Cardinal Richelieu, leading to the final destruction of the fortress walls and the loss of political autonomy.

Modern Era and Contemporary Times

• 1664: Completion of the majestic Episcopal Palace, which today houses the famous Ingres Bourdelle Museum.
• 1780: Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, the future great artist and leader of 19th-century European academicism, is born in Montauban.
• 1808: Emperor Napoleon I creates the Tarn-et-Garonne department by decree, appointing Montauban as its administrative centre (prefecture).
• 1930: A devastating flood on the River Tarn causes colossal damage to the historic centre and residential districts.
• 1939: On the eve of the Second World War, masterpieces from the Louvre, including the famous "Mona Lisa", are secretly evacuated to Montauban for protection against potential bombing.

Stages of Development and Shifting Priorities

Beyond the foundation of the bastide and the Napoleonic reforms, Montauban's history has seen other turning points that shaped its unique character, economy, and intellectual environment.

• "Protestant Athens" (17th Century)
  During the height of the Reformation, Montauban became not just a military fortress but also a powerful intellectual centre. The opening of a Protestant Academy (later becoming a faculty of theology) attracted professors and students, transforming the trading city into an educational hub that rivalled traditional Catholic universities.
• The Railway Revolution (1856)
  The arrival of the "Bordeaux — Sète" railway line radically changed the region's logistics. The River Tarn, which had served as the main transport artery for centuries, gave way to trains. This event marked the end of the era of river shipping and traditional flat-bottomed barges, but opened rapid access to capital and port markets.
• Agrarian Transformation (19th–20th Centuries)
  Thanks to new transport capabilities, the city and its surroundings reoriented towards intensive agriculture. Montauban became the capital of the region's fruit industry: the production of apples, plums, and the famous Chasselas grapes flourished here. This economic shift turned the city into a key distribution centre for agricultural produce in the south of France.
• Recognition of Cultural Heritage (1998)
  The awarding of the official status "City of Art and History" (Ville d’Art et d’Histoire) marked a new stage of urbanisation. The development priority shifted from industry to the preservation of unique brick architecture, the restoration of the historic centre, and the development of tourism as a new driving force of the economy.

Urban Planning Concept and Materials

The architectural appearance of Montauban is inextricably linked to its status as one of the first bastides. The city has preserved its medieval regular layout with a grid of streets intersecting at right angles and converging towards a central square. The main visual dominant is the widespread use of red fired brick, as there were no deposits of building stone in the vicinity. This connects Montauban with Toulouse and gives it a characteristic terracotta shade.

The Middle Ages: Southern Gothic and Fortification

During the 12th–14th centuries, architecture was defensive and functional in nature. Buildings from this period are distinguished by their massiveness and severity of form.

• Southern Gothic (Gothique méridional): A striking example is the Church of Saint-Jacques (Église Saint-Jacques). This style is characterised by wide naves, powerful buttresses, and octagonal bell towers resembling those in Toulouse. The building is made of brick, and the façade still bears traces of cannonball impacts from the religious wars.
• Engineering Gothic: The Old Bridge (Pont Vieux), built in the early 14th century, is a masterpiece of medieval engineering. Its seven pointed arches and flat roadway were designed to withstand the powerful floods of the River Tarn and defend the city.

Classicism of the 17th–18th Centuries: Royal Power and Reconstruction

After the religious upheavals, the city was actively rebuilt. During this period, elements of French classicism were introduced into the local brick tradition, symbolising the assertion of royal power.

• Civil Architecture: The heart of the city, the Place Nationale, was completely reconstructed after fires. The square's ensemble is surrounded by a double row of brick arcades with vaulted galleries, creating a harmonious and unified space.
• Classicism and Baroque: The Episcopal Palace (now the Ingres Bourdelle Museum) demonstrates the transition to a secular residence with elegant façades facing the river.
• Notre-Dame Cathedral: Built in the Classical style, the cathedral contrasts sharply with the rest of the city. It is the only monumental building in the centre clad in white stone, which was intended to emphasise the superiority of the Catholic Church over the Protestant brick surroundings.

19th–20th Centuries: Eclecticism and Art Deco

Becoming the administrative centre of the department under Napoleon I, the city expanded beyond its medieval boundaries. The architecture of this time reflects bourgeois taste and industrial development.

• Villebourbon District: Located on the left bank of the Tarn, this district was developed during the era of industrialisation. Here, one can find mansions in the Art Deco style and industrial buildings made of brick with decorative elements.
• Public Buildings: In the 19th century, a theatre in the Italian style and prefecture buildings were erected, combining elements of Neoclassicism and Historicism.

Great Masters of Art

Montauban is rightfully proud of its contribution to world artistic culture. Two giants of French art were born here, and the city's main museum bears their names.

• Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres (1780–1867) — painter, graphic artist, and violinist.
  A leader of 19th-century European academicism and a recognised master of portraiture. Ingres was born in Montauban, and he bequeathed his studio, including thousands of drawings and personal items, to his hometown. This legacy became the foundation of the Ingres Bourdelle Museum's collection.
• Antoine Bourdelle (1861–1929) — sculptor and teacher.
  A student of Rodin and teacher of Giacometti, Bourdelle became a key figure in 20th-century monumental sculpture. Many of his works can be seen in Montauban, including the famous "Monument to the Fallen" (1870) and the sculpture "Sappho".

Historical Figures and Reformers

The city gave the world individuals whose ideas and actions influenced the course of French history and the development of civil society.

• Olympe de Gouges (1748–1793) — writer, playwright, and political activist.
  Born Marie Gouze in Montauban, she became a pioneer of feminism. She went down in history as the author of the "Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female Citizen", advocating for gender equality at the height of the French Revolution.
• André Jeanbon (Jeanbon Saint-André) (1749–1813) — Protestant pastor and revolutionary.
  He began his career as a pastor in Montauban. He became a prominent figure of the First Republic, playing a key role in the reorganisation of the French navy and the adoption of the tricolour flag as the national symbol.

Pioneers and Explorers

The spirit of innovation is inherent in the natives of Montauban not only in art but also in technology and science.

• Dieudonné Costes (1892–1973) — renowned aviator.
  A First World War flying ace who, in 1930, together with Maurice Bellonte, completed the first non-stop flight from Paris to New York (in the westbound direction, against the wind) on the aircraft "Point d'Interrogation" (Question Mark).
• Marcellin Boule (1861–1942) — paleontologist and geologist.
  A scientist whose research on Neanderthals (specifically the findings at La Chapelle-aux-Saints) shaped early scientific understanding of ancient humans.