National Square

Feeling a little more of that hustle and bustle around here? Don’t worry – you’ve just stepped into Place Nationale, aka National Square, the beating heart of Montauban ever since it was founded back in 1144. This is where rules were proclaimed, merchants traded, and everyday life unfolded. Each covered passageway was named after the goods that were traded in that very location long ago. There’s the Wheat Gallery to the north, the Drapers’ Gallery to the south, the Fruit Gallery to the east, and the Clogmakers’ Gallery to the west. Though the square was hit by two devastating fires in the 17th century and has been rebuilt several times since, it still impresses with its symmetry and charm. Locals and visitors alike gather here to watch the red brick façades shifting colour with the light of day. And if you take a moment to look at the arcades, you’ll notice something rather odd – each one is a slightly different size, depending on the building it supports. Listed as a historic monument since 1910, the square was recently restored after a round of archaeological digs, which uncovered the site of the old Consular House. This is where the city’s consuls used to meet, and where official weights and measures were kept to help set fair prices for goods as far back as the 13th century.