Tarn-et-Garonne, Administrative department in Occitanie, France.
Tarn-et-Garonne is a department in the Occitanie region of southern France comprising about 195 municipalities spread across four districts. The territory stretches from Toulouse in the west to Albi in the east, with the Garonne and Tarn rivers running through farmland and rolling hills.
The department was created in 1808 by Napoleon Bonaparte, who combined portions of five neighboring territories and established Montauban as the new prefecture. Borders have shifted little since then, despite earlier transformations of local administration during the Revolutionary and Imperial periods.
The region takes its name from the two rivers that flow through it and shape its character. Local markets in Montauban and Moissac display fresh fruits, melons and vegetables grown in the valley orchards and surrounding plains.
Montauban's main railway station offers regular train connections to Toulouse and towns across the region. The open landscape suits cycling or exploring by car along small roads that wind through villages and across farmland.
This territory saw medieval conflicts unfold, particularly during the Albigensian Crusades between Catholic forces and Cathar followers in the 13th century. The religious wars left marks across several settlements that still connect locals and visitors to these turbulent times.
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