Montreal, or Montreal-du-Gers (in Gascon: Montrejau de Gers) is a commune in the Gers department, in Occitania, Armagnac region (France). Historically and culturally, the commune is in Condomois, a former district of the province of Gascony, with the title of county.
Exposed to an altered oceanic climate, it is drained by the Auzoue, the Izaute, the Larluzen stream, the Répassat stream and various other small rivers. The town has a remarkable natural heritage made up of six natural areas of ecological, fauna and flora interest.
Montreal is a rural municipality that has 1,180 inhabitants as of 2021, after a population peak of 3,407 inhabitants in 1793. Its inhabitants are called Montrealais or Montrealaises.
Montreal is a member of the The Most Beautiful Villages of France association.
Main attractions
The town hall is from the 18th century. An archaeological museum, accessible from the tourist office, brings together pieces from the Séviac excavations.
The Gallo-Roman villa of Séviac, excavated since 1961, is a classic 4th century villa, with peristyle: three wings frame an interior courtyard and are flanked to the south by a thermal complex with hypocausts in a perfect state of conservation; around the courtyard, four galleries serve the living and utility rooms.
Balarin Castle is characteristic of the warlike eras of the 13th and 14th centuries, which saw the English and the French clash by its rectangular dwelling flanked by a square keep, by the arrangement of the machicoulis and by the shape of the loopholes. The keep and its retaining wall have been listed as MH since April 15, 1942.
Religious buildings
The Collegiate Church of Saint-Philippe-et-Saint-Jacques of Montreal (Gers) was erected on the remains of the first church dedicated to the Virgin and dates from 1300 (the date is given on the pillar of the nave closest to the choir, on the north side).
It is partly fortified, hence its rather imposing appearance. Restored in the 17th century, it has a Gallo-Roman mosaic and the remains of a beautiful Gothic portal that, unfortunately, no longer has its sculptures. The choir and the stained-glass windows were rearranged in the 19th century. It has been listed as a historic monument since 1925. In the extension of the south wall of the church there remains a fortified city gate listed as a historic monument.
The Romanesque church of Saint-Pierre de Genens, from the 12th century, is located 2 km south of Montreal, on the right bank of the Auzoue.
The Gothic church of the ancient commune of Luzanet is located on Route de Sainte-Maure and was classified as a historic monument on December 28, 1984.
The church of Saint-Louis-et-Sainte-Marie-Madeleine in Routgès is also dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene, located on the Camino de Santiago to Santiago de Compostela.
How to get to?
From Paris: 7 hr 19 min (725 km) via A10
From Toulouse: 1 hr 57 min (130 km) via N124
From Andorra: 4 hr 18 min (312 km) via N124
From Barcelona: 6 hr 11 min (457 km) via C-16
From Madrid: 7 hr 16 min (677 km) via A-1
From Monaco: 7 hr 14 min (711 km) via A8
From Moscow: 37 hr (3,530 km) via E30/M1
From Belgrade: 20 hr 18 min (2,015 km) via E70
From Istanbul: 31 hr (2,964 km) via E70
From Bern: 9 hr 11 min (943 km) via A89
Main information
Area: 63.80 km2
Population: 1180
Coordinates: 43°57′00″N 0°12′01″E
Language: French
Currency: Euro
Visa: Schengen
Time: Central European UTC +1
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