Maison du crieur

This house is a familiar sight to many in Montauban. Older generations remember it as a popular hotel and restaurant back in the 1950s, while for younger locals, it’s known simply as “the Town Crier’s House.” It’s an unusual name, inspired by a sculpted head tucked into one of the corners – its mouth wide open, as if frozen mid-shout. So what exactly are we looking at? A spooky symbol meant to ward off evil? Maybe. A quirky bit of architectural flair? Could be. But according to local tradition, this is where the town crier would stand, right beneath that carving, to announce the price of goods and read out official news to the public. Sounds like something from a bygone era, but the tradition lives on! Montauban has actually revived the tradition with a modern twist. Every Saturday at exactly 11:44 a.m. – a clever nod to the year the city was founded – you might just hear a crier delivering the latest cultural announcements. So, if you’re nearby, be sure to stop by for a moment and see if history still has something to say!