Heritage walk in Montech

Created at the very beginning of the Middle Ages, Montech today retains some heritage traces of that time. Over the centuries, its stronghold (the castrum) grew economically thanks to the proximity of Montauban. Subsequently, the creation of the Canal lateral to the Garonne greatly benefited the industrial and economic expansion of the city. Montech is an essential place for anyone who loves heritage, the tranquility of the countryside and the tranquility of the waters of the canals.

Also read our article on the Pente d'Eau de Montech, a remarkable technical feat, unique in the world!

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Bricks, half-timbering and pebbles from the Garonne

From an architectural point of view, Montech is a mixture of genres which gives it a particular identity. The proximity to Toulouse explains the massive use of brick. The orange color brings warmth and harmony to the whole. Open your eyes wide during your walk in the alleys, you will see half-timbered and corbelled houses, but also very beautiful private mansions. Here, the styles intersect and coexist perfectly.

The corbels were intended to save space on the street

Subtle mix of bricks and half-timbered

The brick walls, in the alleys of Montech

Private mansion and its magnificent porte-cochere

A few must-see buildings

Follow the discovery circuit of the city which will lead you to different buildings, religious buildings and other quality heritage to see.

• The Church of Our Lady of the Visitation

A fine example of Southern Gothic style. Its construction began during the 14^th century and was completed in the 15^th. Its independent and quite high bell tower, look up at 46m to the sky! You will appreciate the delicacy of the octagonal tower and its 3 floors. And, if you arrive at chime time, listen carefully to the melody of its 12 active bells. This church was listed as a Historic Monument in 1918.

Notre-Dame de la Visitation and its elegant tower

• The Church of Our Lady of the Feuillade

Well established on its small esplanade, the Notre-Dame de la Feuillade church dominates. But you should know that originally there was only a small chapel here dedicated to the Virgin. People came there on pilgrimage on May 31 and July 16. This one did not survive the assaults of the Revolution. The church you will see hosted its first offices in 1872.

Notre-Dame de la Feuillade on its esplanade

• Booth

Located on Place Jean Jaurès, the Montech kiosk was built “in the old fashioned way” in 2007. Come closer and look up, you will see that chimes have been installed!

The Montech kiosk

• The town hall

Formerly there was an orphanage and the Saint-Esprit hospital here. In particular, it received people injured during the wars of religion. Then it was demolished. The current imposing building was built with materials from the old building. It houses the offices of the Town Hall of Montech.

The beautiful building where the Town Hall of Montech is located

• The old city gates

See you at Rue Lafargue and Rue Sadi-Carnot! There, you can discover the locations of the old city gates, when the town was fortified.

Previously, the medieval city was surrounded by walls and ditches, and at each cardinal point was a gate that opened onto the town.

 

Two of the old doors are still materialized

• The Water Slope

A real technological feat, the Pente d'Eau de Montech is a unique place that has known its hour of glory and a reputation well beyond our borders. This boat lift once made it possible to avoid 5 locks! Closed to navigation in 2009, it has had a second life in recent years thanks to the recent redevelopment of the place. A real project of interpretation and enhancement of the Machine and the Pente d'Eau has been set up and it is to be discovered urgently!

 

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The natural heritage of Montech

Take advantage of the varied landscapes offered by Montech.

• The waterways and the marina

There is not one, but two canals to discover in Montech: the Canal lateral to the Garonne and the Canal de Montech.

The first is a section of the Canal du Midi, while the second connects Montech to Montauban. How pleasant it is to walk there! Several hiking trails are also offered to make the most of the beautiful landscapes.

 

Beautiful surprises await you along the Canal lateral to the Garonne

The marina is charming and the harbor master's office will allow you to collect some tourist information. Located a few hundred meters from the city center, it is quite possible to moor your boat there to take advantage of the services offered by Montech or simply to walk there and discover the city and its attractions.

The boats docked at the port of Montech

• Greenways

For the sports enthusiasts, do not hesitate to ride your most beautiful bicycle and to pedal in complete safety and in all serenity along the 2 greenways crossing Montech. One follows the Canal des Deux Mers (V80), and the other the Canal de Montech (fr).

Read our article on a bike ride in Montech

Walk without any difficulty on the greenway

• The forest of Agre

And for a breath of fresh air, take a walk in the forest of Agre. On foot or by bike, it will welcome you with open arms and you may be lucky enough to see some wild animals there. And to find out more about this forest, don't hesitate to take the botanical trail. This was set up by the Municipal Youth Council. The interpretation panels will inform you in particular about the different species of trees present.

 

Welcome to the heart of the Agre forest

This concludes the visit to Montech. Hoping that these few pieces of information have given you the desire to go there and discover its 1001 heritage riches, whether built or natural.

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Article and photos prepared by Charline Prod'Homme for the Guide du Tarn Aveyron.

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