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Heritage classified

Key figures

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 the Renaissance. The Toulouse architect Pierre Besneville is identified as the masterpiece of this ensemble, characterized by the almost exclusive use of the brick, with the exception of the arch keys, vaults and window supports, made from another material.

The National Square illustrates the influence of Toulouse architectural models in Montauban, with a rigorous organization of facades and overall harmony. Protected elements, i.e. facades and roofs, were classified by ministerial decree as early as 1917, highlighting their heritage value. The brick construction, the dominant materials in the region, reflects the aesthetic techniques and tastes of the era, while integrating decorative details such as circular bays on the top floor.

Although the precise location is estimated as poor (note 5/10), the official address registered in the Merimée base is the 23 National Place in the Tarn-et-Garonne department. This monument, open to visit under conditions, bears witness to the urban dynamism of Montauban during the Renaissance, a period marked by economic and cultural growth in the South-West of France.

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