Autumn in Montauban’s museums

For over 35 years, the Museum of the Resistance and the Fighter has been collecting, preserving, promoting and passing on individual and collective memories. Through artefacts and archival documents, visitors are invited to immerse themselves in a complex period of history in which men and women were forced to make a choice: some opting for collaboration, whilst others chose the path of freedom, even at the risk of losing their lives.

Practical information:

Tuesday to Saturday, 10.00 am to 12.00 pm and 2.00 pm to 5.30 pm
Meet at the Espace Perbosc
Free entry. Suitable for ages 10 and over

For 45 minutes, immerse yourself in the history of the museum and its collections. Discover the stories of several local figures caught up in the turmoil of war, some of whom distinguished themselves through their courage.

Practical information:

3 October, 28 November and 12 December at 3.00 pm
Led by a CIAP tour guide
Meet at the Espace Perbosc
Duration: 45 mins / Capacity: 20 people
Free. Ages 14 and over
Booking recommended: 05 63 66 03 11 or [email protected]

On 5 December 1939, the Prefect of Tarn-et-Garonne requisitioned the house at 18 Quai du Port in Moissac to accommodate the refugees flooding into the department. He entrusted its management to Shatta Simon and her husband Édouard, known as ‘Bouli’, who quickly transformed it into a children’s home. Through a thoughtfully curated exhibition, the exhibition invites visitors to discover their story and how they organised the rescue of nearly 500 Jewish children from across Europe, with the support of the local authorities and the local community.

Practical information:

Venue: Espace Perbosc

Exhibition organised by the ONaCVG of Tarn-et-Garonne
Tuesday to Saturday, 10.00–12.00 and 14.00–17.30
Free entry. Suitable for ages 10 and over

26 September at 3.00 pm — Escapes from France via Spain during the 1939–1945 war
By Jean-Claude Marcel, member of the Tarn-et-Garonne Writers’ Society

During the Second World War, many people attempted to flee occupied France via Spain. At the foot of the Pyrenees, networks were organised to help them in their escape. Join Jean-Claude Marcel, who has collected testimonies from both escapees and smugglers, to discover the stories of these fugitives, including that of seven young men from Tarn-et-Garonne who refused to take part in the STO.

Practical information:

Meet at the Espace Perbosc
Duration: 1 hour / Capacity: 35 people
Free. Ages 14 and over
Booking recommended on 05 63 66 03 11 or [email protected]

21 November at 3.00 pm — The stuff of heroes? Uniforms, insignia and equipment of the Quercy Maquis (Lot and Lot-et-Garonne) 1943–1944
By Emmanuel Carrère, curatorial assistant

The collective imagination, reinforced after the war by the ‘myth of the Resistance’ and the cinema, has perpetuated the image of well-armed and well-equipped maquis fighters. However, this overlooks the fact that, in the early days, they were dressed in civilian clothes, had very few weapons and faced significant logistical problems. Come and discover their history, their materials and equipment, and the link between the maquis in the Lot and those in Tarn-et-Garonne. The talk will be accompanied by a display of objects from private collections and the museum.

Practical information:

Meet at the Espace Perbosc
Duration: 2½ hours / Capacity: 35 people
Free. Ages 14 and over
Booking recommended on 05 63 66 03 11 or [email protected]

Children in the turmoil of the Second World War
By the Museum of the Resistance and the Combatant
Meet at the Espace Perbosc

Whilst war may be a ‘matter for adults’, children were nonetheless its direct victims. Children of the Exodus, sons and daughters of prisoners, children who were deported or abducted – all endured the horrors of war. In the midst of the conflict, men and women did everything they could to protect them. The museum invites visitors to discover their stories through the documents it holds.

Practical information:
Duration: 1 hour / capacity: 35 people.
Free. Ages 14 and over
Booking recommended on 05 63 66 03 11 or [email protected]

Artists and the Second World War
By the Museum of the Resistance and the Combatant

During the Second World War, intellectuals, artists, filmmakers and writers were forced to take a stand: some opposed the Vichy regime, the Axis powers or the Occupation, whilst others chose the path of collaboration. Come and discover the stories of these artists, both German and French, during the turbulent period of the Second World War.

Practical information:

Meet at the Espace Perbosc
Duration: 1 hour / Capacity: 35 people
Free. Ages 14 and over
Booking recommended on 05 63 66 03 11 or [email protected]

Profile: Josephine Baker, a woman who dances, sings and fights…
By Jean-Claude Bouillon-Baker, author and son of Josephine Baker

A woman of great compassion and a renowned artist, Joséphine Baker dedicated herself to numerous causes. Initially a spy for the Free French Forces, she later used her fame to champion the fight against racism. She passed on her humanist values to her ‘rainbow tribe’, of which Jean-Claude Bouillon-Baker is a part. Come and discover the artist’s many lives as recounted by her son, and watch the screening of a previously unseen film he has created.

Practical information:
Meet at the Espace Perbosc

Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes / Capacity: 35 people
Free. Ages 14 and over
Booking recommended on 05 63 66 03 11 or [email protected]

Serious game: Joséphine’s kit
Presented by the ONaCVG

Follow the game master’s instructions, open the briefcase, discover the objects and documents inside, and step back in time! Through a series of puzzles, discover the tumultuous and inspiring life of Joséphine Baker, the world-renowned artist and member of the Resistance.

Practical information:
Duration: 1 hour / Capacity: 20 people
Free, booking essential: [email protected]

Meet at the Espace Perbosc