Montauban, Ingres and his musée

After three years of renovation, the Musée Ingres Bourdelle in Montauban had the misfortune to reopen in December 2019. After two years of Covid disruption, I managed to visit it last week. Housed in the former bishop’s palace, the new museum is one of Occitanie’s essential destinations for art lovers. And if you don’t know it already, while you there you will discover the meaning of the French idiom, ‘le violon d’Ingres’ (mine is the piano!)

​While you are in town, don’t forget to visit the Place Nationale, surrounded on all four sides by a magnificent double row of arcades (the centre of the square is currently in the midst of building works which are due to be completed this summer). There is also a magnificent arcaded pigeonnier incongruously sited among the buildings of the hospital. 

During the Wars of Religion, Montauban was staunchly Protestant: this link describes a short and excellent walk taking in some notable buildings from that period:

walk

If you like vegetarian food, or are intrigued by the idea of vegan foie gras, call in at Namasthè for lunch.