In Montauban, I keep the children busy during our stay

In the middle of winter, do you want to explore Tarn-et-Garonne and warm up in the bright light of its pink brick buildings? The lilting accent of the locals will already transport you to vacation... The gastronomy and cultural appeal will finally convince you to come and enjoy this attractive region all year round!

For your stay, you point to the Montauban map and you're right! At the crossroads of multiple places of interest about thirty minutes away all around the city, there's plenty to do to visit, but also to relax. But wait, are you with your family ? Are you going to need activities to entertain the toddlers ? Don't move, we have what you need!

Montauban with the family, activities for everyone!

It's the largest city in the department. A dynamic bastide, labeled "city of art and history", a must-see during your stay! Montauban has an architectural and cultural heritage that is worth the detour: more than 43 listed buildings, that's saying something! But... Not sure that will attract the attention of children... In any case, not all day ;)

Start with a good breakfast on the Place Nationale and its glowing arcades. Is it still a little chilly this morning? Discover the Victor Brun Natural History Museum, located in a beautiful building. It's a small museum that will keep you busy for an hour or two, depending on how interested the children are in the beautifully represented stuffed animals.

As the sun rises, take the family to the canal port for a relaxing visit along the waterfront. You'll see beautiful boats of all colors. In season, you can also take short cruises.

Would you have preferred to stay in town and continue your visits ? The big kids in you will appreciate the Toy Museum, it's a magical place where you will be offered a passionate and exciting visit. The best part is the little train, choo choo!

For lunch, why not bring a picnic to enjoy at the Jardin des Plantes ? The arboretum will delight the children, while you enjoy coffee on the lawn. There is also the possibility of visiting the park with a smartphone application that transforms it into a virtual zoo : Magic Xperience application. If you want a larger park, the Parc du Treil is a perfect place for a family walk with its 13,000m² of nature on the banks of the Tarn River.

Photo © Sweet Delices Facebook Page

Cheese lovers will surely enjoy visiting a farm ? La Ferme du Ramier offers visits all year round to discover the work of breeders (breeders in this case, since it is run by two women :) ), who will passionately tell you about their daily life with the cows. How are these animals raised, how is milking done? With a bit of luck, you will even see calves ! It's all year round, on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4 p.m. During school holidays, there are special activities for children on Wednesdays.

Is it raining? Escape to an indoor playground, like Parc Tohubohu, to roll around with the kids. Teenagers might be tempted by Escape Games ; there are two in Montauban: S Room Agency for 2 to 6 players and “Colombo”-style scenarios, and Mr K Escape Game, which focuses on tricky puzzles...

Finally, if you fancy a summer bubble in the winter, the large Ingreo aquatic complex is open all year round, with slides and invigorating warm water.

Discover Montauban from a different angle?

Looking for street art : Do your teens love graffiti? Several street artists have spray-painted their artwork all over the city.

What if it was a good way to get them to walk without complaining? ;) For example, look for the "Invaders" (small square frescoes, like pixels). There are 11 of them in the city streets. Julien de Casabianca created frescoes by pasting on certain buildings (2 large collages and some smaller ones). To guide your wanderings, follow the list given on the Tourist Office website.

Discover Montauban and its surroundings by bike. To do this, there are several options: if you have come with your own equipment, you can set off directly along the Montech Canal, which connects this town to Montauban over 11 km. You can also take the Aveyron Valley cycle route, a mountain bike circuit that can be done with the family, starting from Montauban and ending at Laguépie, passing through a multitude of superb medieval villages such as Montricoux, Bruniquel, Penne and Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val. If you don't have your own equipment, turn to mountain bike, bicycle and hybrid bike rental companies!

Visit the city with the children's discovery booklet, which is distributed at the Tourist Office: Zig Zag. A discovery trail that offers a map with photos and explanations on the city's history, quiz-type questions, and small games.