National Architecture Days in Montauban

Every year in mid-October, the National Architecture Days invite the general public to take a fresh look at our towns and cities and the people who built them. In Montauban, a city of art and history built from pink bricks, the 2026 edition offers a meeting with an architect from Bâtiments de France, a participatory art workshop and a tour following in the footsteps of an architect who shaped the city’s character in the 20th century.

Published on 6 September 2026

15–18 October

National Architecture Days 2026

meeting, participatory workshop and architectural tour.

National Architecture Days: a key event for understanding the city

Established by the Ministry of Culture, the National Architecture Days aim to raise public awareness of architectural quality and the history of the built environment around us. In Montauban, a town designated a ‘City of Art and History’, this event resonates particularly strongly: from its medieval bastide to its mansions and 20th-century buildings, Montauban’s architecture tells the story of nine centuries of urban transformation.

A sneak preview: an interview with an architect from Bâtiments de France

The programme begins on Tuesday 13 October at 6.00 pm, in the courtyard of the Ancien Collège, with a talk entitled “What restoration work is taking place in the historic centre?”. Isabelle Van Mastrigt, head of the Tarn-et-Garonne Departmental Unit for Architecture and Heritage, will present several restoration projects currently underway in the historic centre and explain how the town is preserving its architectural heritage in the face of modernisation challenges.

Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes / Capacity: 30 people
Free of charge, booking essential at the CIAP, on 05 63 63 03 50 or via [email protected]

A participatory workshop on urban architecture

Participatory art project

On Saturday 17 October at 2.30 pm, head to the CIAP (Centre for the Interpretation of Architecture and Heritage) for a participatory workshop led by visual artist Victoria Niki. This is a chance to get to know the artist and do your bit: each participant will craft a brick out of recycled paper, which will form part of a collective artwork inspired by Montalban’s architecture, to be featured in the exhibition “Places: the spaces that inhabit us” from November 2026.

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes / Capacity: 20 people
Free, booking essential at the CIAP, on 05 63 63 03 50 or at [email protected]

In the footsteps of the architect Germain Olivier

Guided tour

On the same day, Saturday 17 October at 4.30 pm, a guided tour entitled “An Architect’s Journey: Germain Olivier” invites visitors to explore the town in the footsteps of this municipal architect, who practised from 1914 to 1920. The theatre, the Maison du Peuple, and public and private commissions: many of Germain Olivier’s projects showcase a distinctive style, blending tradition and modernity. The tour offers an insight into these iconic façades, emblematic of Montalban architecture in the early 20th century.

Starting point: tourist office; finishing at the sailing club
Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes / Capacity: 30 people
Price: €6.50 / €4.50 (booking essential; tickets available on the day or at www.montauban-tourisme.com)
Please wear suitable walking shoes.