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Origin and history

Montauriol Castle, located in Montauban in the department of Tarn-et-Garonne, was erected in 1865 by Toulouse architect Henri Bach (1815-1899) in a neo-Renaissance style. He was commissioned by M. Fabre de Cahuzac and occupied the site of the former bishop's garden, a public promenade arranged in 1658 for Pierre de Bertier (1606-1674), then bishop of Montauban. This garden, conceived as a space of relaxation and prestige, reflected the importance of bishops in local life before the Revolution.

In 1909, after the law of separation of the churches and the state (1905), the bishops left the town hall of Montauban and acquired the castle of Montauriol, where they resided until 1969. This change marks a transition in the use of the building from a private residence to a religious institution, prior to its acquisition by the Department in 1974. In the same year, the castle was the setting for Louis Malle's film Lacombe Lucien, adding a cultural dimension to its history.

Since 1974, the castle belongs to the Department of Tarn-et-Garonne, which installed the new prefecture in 1983, later renamed Hôtel du Département. The surrounding park, heir to the 17th century episcopal garden, regularly hosts public events, perpetuating its role as a gathering space. The building thus embodies several epochs: an aristocratic origin, a religious vocation, and then a contemporary administrative function.

The neo-Renaissance architecture of the castle, typical of the nineteenth century, contrasts with its historical environment, recalling the urban transformations of Montauban. The choice of this style reflects the eclectic tastes of the time, mixing medieval and renaissant references. The building remains a testimony of the social and political changes of the region, from the former regime to the republic.

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