This is Montans !!!

Posted in Europe, France

In my road warrior trails in the south of France seen a lot but ,also wonderful family roots, My dear late wife Martine took me to Montans, the town of her uncle and cousins ; then only cousins as uncle had passed away and could not meet him. I need to tell you about this town in a post dedicated to this is Montans !!! The town is near outside really Gaillac in the Tarn dept 81 of the Occitanie region of my belle France. Hope you enjoy the post as I.

The town of Montans is a very small village; this is where the family moved in later years as they were from Lavaur (see posts) not far My wife grew up going to the local wine cooperative nearby in Técou. Nestled in the heart of a thousand-year-old vineyard, 4 km from Gaillac, The town is cross by the Tarn river and many smaller tributaries You can get here on the autoroute or expressway A68 (autoroute de pastels) exit or sortie 9 or the better the N88 road. Of course, I come from Gaillac on the D87.

Montans passing by uncle house MF et boys jul10

The main and most important must visit here is the Archéosite opened in 1995. showcasing the pre history to the middle ages ; there is a street in the gallo roman style as well as a house of ceramic makers from parts found in Montans probably coming from the pottery enclave here in the 1C.The town is known for its production of Gallic and then Roman pottery, attested by numerous archaeological remains unearthed since the 19C. The Archéosite offer a journey back in time to discover the daily life of Gallo-Roman potters with archaeological objects and life-size reconstructions.  Every year you have something going on here with events, expo, demonstrations shops, expositions etc to showcase this museum.  Worth the detour me think.

Montans archéosite de montans front jul10

A bit of history I like tell us to go way back to the Gaulois , and one of the most important sites of pottery under the Roman occupation. This is old and small Montans. The place called Le Rougé was occupied in the first Iron Age , then in the Second Iron Age. This last epoch has left common ceramics of Gallic tradition like cups and bowls ,and some vestiges of Campanian pottery. In 1982, prevention and rescue excavations in the district of Labouygue unearthed seven rudimentary potters’ ovens from Tène III, with full hearth and open hearth. The Tibetan era (years 14-37) produced sigillata pottery and numerous vestiges of wine amphorae of the Pascual 1 type signed Tarani, more stocky than the Catalan or Languedoc amphoraes. Dating from the very beginning of the 1C, these amphorae accompany the beginnings of the Gaillac vineyard. With the Roman occupation, the site became in the 1C a major production center for pottery sigillata from southern Gaul. There are many Montans potteries throughout the West of France, up to Spain, in Brittany, as well as in Great Britain. They also make other ceramic productions in Montans: antefixes, oil lamps, statuettes etc The first vestiges of potters’ workshops in Montans are only mentioned in 1868.

The town of Montans on the Archéosite : https://www.montans.fr/archeosite

The community agglo of towns Gaillac-Graulhet on the Archéosite of Montans : https://www.gaillac-graulhet.fr/se-divertir/larcheosite-de-montans/lieu-culturel-et-pedagogique/

The Tarn dept 81 tourist office on the Archéosite of Montans : https://www.tourisme-tarn.com/uk/patrimoine-culturel/archeosite-de-montans/

There you go folks, you just need to be there, great area wonderful architecture, history ,wines ,food the works this is the Tarn at its best, Again, hope you enjoy this post on this is Montans as I.

And remember, happy travels , good health, and many cheers to all !!!

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Published by pedmar10

I am a lover of travels to Europe , Americas , Africa and Asia as well ,who like to share my experiences of the last 53 years with the world, visiting so far 81 countries; living in 6, working in 5, and Citizen of 4, speaking fluently 4 languages. I can deal with sports especially football/soccer and love music, arts, wine collector/drinker, and go out to restaurants, and just visit the world. My background comes all the way from Candelaria and Pajara in Tenerife, Spain where my grandparents came from ;not knowing each other then, to Punta Brava, west of Havana, Cuba. There , my parents born in Cuba met and later on I was born there too. 100% guanche (annexed Tenerife to Spain on April 10 ,1496). I left Cuba as many have to Madrid, Spain where I lived for 4 years. Then, move to Perth Amboy ,New Jersey USA (living there 13 yrs) ; where I completed high school, became a US Citizen, learned to drive a car, and learned English. Afterward, went to the university in Florida, ERAU, and upon graduation decided to moved there to Ormond by the Sea, near Daytona Beach, finally moving North Miami, then Hialeah, then another moved to Silver Lakes division in Miramar, Broward county, Florida; in Florida I lived a total of 18 years. Finally , moved to France in 2003 ,Versailles call me for its royalty, and working in Paris was great. It was time to seek frontiers again and moved to Brech near Auray, Morbihan in Brittany , and later move to not too far Pluvigner. Total so far in France has been 20 years, and counting. Moving average a home every 5.5 years hopefully this will be my last. Cheers All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of the copyright holder, me. No part of this work may be modified, without the written permission of the holder, me.No part of this work may be exposed to public view in any form or by any means, without identifying the holder as the author, and with the before mentioned permission.

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