Place Nationale

pink heart of the Cité d'Ingres

On sunny days, the bricks change reflections, the melody of restaurant cutlery rings out, conversations enliven the square and the passageways beneath the arcades. Take your place in the setting. Enjoy the freshness of a glass on the tile floor, the local flavors at the restaurant tables, the rhythms of a concert, or the fascinating anecdotes of the tour guides on a guided tour.

For the curious

The square has features that inspired the construction of new towns and bastides in the south of France.

Look closely at the arcades, which are not all the same size. Each corresponds to the width of its respective building. The keystones under the roofs provide clues to the building’s owners and construction dates. Behind the doors are treasures saved from the fires : a medieval brick tower here, a Renaissance gallery there…

The buildings are designed for both business and personal use. The store occupies the first floor, the first and second floors are inhabited and the upper floor, with its distinctive mirandes, is used as an attic.

New: a water mirror!

Place Nationale gets a makeover

After a few months’ work, the Place Nationale is once again accessible to tourists and Montalbanais alike. A new tile, new furniture, a completely redesigned Place des Cafetiers and, above all… a water mirror!

Ideal for hot summer days, this cool oasis is perfect for breaks between monument visits.

Water mirror operation

The water mirror operates from 9am to 11pm.

9 am to 10 am, water mirror

10am to 10pm, alternating fog/mirror/pop jet sequences

10pm to 11pm, water mirror

To discover the square

Are you?

A digital journey

Terrace restaurant

A guided tour

It’s all made of red bricks that whistle softly…

Emile-Antoine Bourdelle

Focus

Place nationale

Discover the history of Place Nationale with CIAP’s “Focus place Nationale” brochure.

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Did you know?

Devastated by two fires in the 17th century, the square has always shown a certain resilience, giving it a protective character.

The fire of November 11, 1616 ravaged the south side and part of the east side. To prevent such a catastrophe from happening again, architect Pierre Levesville had the new brick houses rebuilt alongside the medieval half-timbered ones. Reconstruction completed in 1621.

A second fire broke out on June 15, 1649, destroying most of the north and east roofs. At the request of the consuls, Bernard Campmartin, the King’s architect, proposed to raise the facades by one storey of mirrored galetas. This addition reinforces the monumentality and classicism of the square.

The square and its secrets...

The square holds so many period secrets for you to discover in the corner of its arcades. Like that of the metre standard inlaid in one of its pillars, or the monumental wooden cross bearing witness to the location of the pillory… on this square which was also a place where justice was served. Buried beneath your feet, and unearthed during the latest excavations, are the remains of the consular house, where public documents setting out the rules of life were kept.

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