Date engraved on a house 1516 (≈ 1516)
First entry dated on the whole.
1556
Date engraved on a house
Date engraved on a house 1556 (≈ 1556)
Second date visible on the square.
6 mars 1917
Historical Monument
Historical Monument 6 mars 1917 (≈ 1917)
Protection of facades and roofs.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The façade and roof (Box BM 234): classification by decree of 6 March 1917
Key figures
Pierre Besneville - Toulouse architect
Master of the National Square.
Origin and history
The building on the Place Nationale in Montauban is part of a remarkable 16th century architectural ensemble. This historic monument is distinguished by its ground floor forming a double vaulted gallery on dogive crosses, while its three upper floors feature alternately rectangular and circular bays. Some houses in this square bear the engraved dates of 1516 and 1556, attesting to their construction during this period. The Toulouse architect Pierre Besneville is identified as the masterpiece of this ensemble, characterized by the dominant use of the brick, with the exception of arch keys, vaults and window supports, made from another material.
The National Square, conceived as a harmonious urban space, illustrates the influence of Renaissance architectural models in southwestern France. The facades and roofs of this building were classified as Historic Monument by order of 6 March 1917, thus recognizing their heritage value. The regularity of the prescriptions and the mix of berry forms (rectangular and circular) reflect an aesthetic and functional research specific to the time. The systematic use of brick, an emblematic material of the region, reinforces the local identity of this ensemble, while highlighting the know-how of the artisans of the time.
The precise address of the building, 16 Place Nationale, is referenced in the Merimée base under the code Insee 82121, corresponding to the municipality of Montauban in Tarn-et-Garonne. Although the GPS location is approximate (please note 5/10), available sources, such as Monumentum, confirm its anchoring in the historic centre of the city. This building, which is part of a larger complex, is a testament to the planned planning of the 16th century, where civil architecture played a central role in the organisation of public and private spaces.
