Place Nationale, Historic square in Montauban, France
Place Nationale is a historic square featuring double rows of covered arcades on all sides. Pink brick buildings rise three stories above ground level, creating a unified design with continuous shelter underneath the arches.
The square was founded in 1144 and took its current form after major fires in 1614 and 1649. These disasters prompted substantial reconstruction during the 17th century that shaped the space as it exists today.
The covered areas still reflect their historic division into quarters for different trades. Visitors walking through the arcade can sense the remnants of this old commercial organization in how the space is organized.
The renovated space features new tiles and multiple seating areas positioned throughout. A water feature operates daily from 9 AM to 11 PM, making the square comfortable for spending time in any weather thanks to the overhead shelter.
Carved into the arcade pillars are an ancient standard measure and a wooden cross. These mark where the judicial pillory once stood, revealing how the square functioned as a space for public justice in earlier times.
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