Montgaillard combines marked hiking trails with a very hilly landscape of forests, agricultural land and pasture. The area also has traces of pottery-making and architectural evidence from different periods. Those who like to combine outdoor activity with local history will find both here in tangible form: marked routes to help plan a hike, as well as traces of historic crafts and architectural history.

Hiking trails for different time budgets

The walking times for the marked trails offer a range of different time budgets. The Circuit des Fontaines (PR9) is 6 km long, with a stated walking time of 2 hours. The Circuit des Potiers (PR6) is 10 km long and takes 2 hours 30 minutes. The two routes therefore differ by 4 km and half an hour. The PR6 thus offers a slightly longer time frame than the PR9.

For longer hikes, there is the Circuit de la Chêneraie (PR8), at 17 km and 4 hours 30 minutes, and the Circuit des Lacs (PR5), at 26 km and 6 hours 30 minutes. In direct comparison, the PR5 is 9 km longer and has a stated walking time that is 2 hours longer. Across all four routes, the stated walking times range from 2 to 6 hours 30 minutes. This lets you weigh up the distance and time to plan your hiking workload.

The Circuit de la Chêneraie starts at the church square; check local trail conditions before setting out. The Circuit des Lacs follows the shores of Lac de la Chêneraie. This gives the longer route a specific landscape feature, while the PR8 starting point provides a useful reference when planning.

Pottery-making and local history

The Circuit des Fontaines (PR9) follows old paths used by the people and potters of the village of Montgaillard. The route therefore has a direct historical connection to life and crafts in the village.

Clay used to make “oules”, traditional cooking pots, was extracted in the Bois de Oules. Around half a century ago, there were about forty potters in the village of Montgaillard in the Tarn-et-Garonne department. These two details complement one another: the clay extraction identifies a raw material used in the craft, while the approximate number describes the scale of pottery-making at the time.

Church, half-timbering and traces of a castle

The buildings also offer a range of different points of interest. The Église Saint-Séverin is a 19th-century Neo-Gothic church. A half-timbered house in the village square reflects its Lomagnol origins. One corner tower and part of the surrounding ditches remain from the former castle. For those interested in architectural history as well as hiking trails, there are several tangible points of reference here: a 19th-century church, a half-timbered house with a regional attribution, and surviving parts of a former castle.

Discover more destinations: Belvèze, L'honor-De-Cos, Garganvillar, Saint-Cirq, Bourg-de-Visa, Montfermier, Vazerac, Albias.

For the broader travel overview: Tarn-Et-Garonne.