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Bouillac

Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Tarn-et-Garonne

Bouillac - Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Tarn-et-Garonne
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Bouillac is a commune of Tarn-et-Garonne, in the Occitanie region, 34 km south-west of Montauban, on the edge of the Haute-Garonne.

The vast territory of the locality (30 km²) lies to the east of the natural region of Lomagne, and the village itself has developed on a plateau bordered to the west by valleys and to the east by the course of the Garonne, about ten kilometers.

Bouillac owes its celebrity to the establishment in 1114 of the abbey of Grandselve, in the heart of a vast forest. Very prosperous, controlling in particular the navigation on the Garonne and perceiving rights of passage, the abbey was largely dismantled then demolished with the Revolution and at the beginning of the XIXe century.

Only a few remains of what was once considered the largest monastic ensemble in Europe. On the other hand, the treasure of the abbey has been preserved: they are exceptional pieces of religious silverware.

Nowadays, Bouillac which counts about 650 inhabitants keeps the memory of this glorious past and emphasizes its environmental inheritance. Beautiful hikes can be made there. So many reasons that make the town a stage of interest before winning the Quercy or joining Toulouse...

Geographical information

MunicipalityBouillac
Postcode82600
Latitude43.8427590 (N 43° 50’ 34”)
Longitude1.1191690 (E 1° 7’ 9”)
AltitudeFrom 115m to 253m
Surface area30.45 km²
Population601 inhabitants
Density19 inhabitants/km²
PrefectureMontauban (37 km, 39 min)
Insee code82020
IntercommunalityCC Grand Sud Tarn et Garonne
DepartmentTarn-et-Garonne
TerritoriesMidi-Pyrénées, Quercy
RegionOccitanie

Nearest cities & towns

Beaupuy2.9 km (5 min)
Comberouger5 km (6 min)
Lagraulet-Saint-Nicolas7.5 km (12 min)
Saint-Sardos8.4 km (13 min)
Savenès9.7 km (11 min)
Bellesserre10.4 km (15 min)
Aucamville10.7 km (10 min)
Le Burgaud11.2 km (12 min)
Verdun-sur-Garonne11.7 km (14 min)
Cox12.1 km (16 min)
Vigueron12.3 km (15 min)
Mas-Grenier13.6 km (15 min)
Escazeaux13.8 km (17 min)
Gariès13.8 km (19 min)

Things to see and do

A stop at Bouillac inevitably includes a visit to the historical site of the Abbey of Grandselve (literally translated from Latin as "big forest"), a few kilometers north of the village, along the RD55. Then surrounded by woods, it was founded by Géraud de Salles in 1114. The first monks, on the spot, clear the place, erect an oratory and arrange a hermitage. From 1344, the monastery is affiliated with Clairvaux (Cistercian order) and experienced a boom from the thirteenth century thanks to the donations of the lords of the region, revenue from vineyards, navigation fees collected in Verdun-sur-Garonne. There are 800 monks on the site. The territory on which extend the powers of the abbey stretches from the Garonne to Beaumont-de-Lomagne and L'Isle-Jourdain. The abbey also created the Collège Saint-Bernard in Toulouse in 1281. At Bouillac, the abbey itself covers eight hectares including the cloister (XII), the church of the Assumption, as imposing as a cathedral (101.60 m by 20.25 m) and buildings and workshops. Everything ends in 1790: the abbey is sold as national property. In 1793, the cloister and the chapter house were demolished and in 1803, it is the turn of the abbey church. As for the building of the hotel it is razed in 1815. Only remain a door adorned with a macaroon (XVII) and a dovecote. However, during the twentieth century, excavations will uncover many vestiges (sculptures, capitals). And above all has been preserved the treasure of the abbey: it is 7 reliquaries of vermeil, made in the thirteenth century, representative of Languedoc art in religious goldsmithery. They are exposed in the chapel of the village church.

On the site of the former abbey, a small museum has been built which houses some documents and documents. Guided tour of the museum and the exteriors on Sundays in July and August at 2:30 pm and 4 pm, under the guidance of volunteers. Opening also during the Heritage Days in September. For groups or individuals, visit possible outside of these dates by reservation at least one week before the date provided on +33 9 75 65 06 00.

Then return to the village where stands the Notre-Dame church, burned in the sixteenth century during the Wars of Religion (while the abbey was spared), rebuilt in 1632 and embellished with a Gothic vault in 1860. We observe materials (traditional bricks of the region), the foothills and especially the magnificent bell tower-wall of the seventeenth century. It was restored in 1954 and is the finest example of such steeple in the department. It includes five arcades with bells spread over three levels and ends with a triangular pinion flanked by pyramids. The church is protected as historical monuments. And in a chapel, it shelters the treasure of the abbey (when it is not lent to be exposed in a prestigious museum...).

Then place the leisure "nature" available on the town.

No less than 33 km of hiking trails have been developed on the locality, including steps in the heart of the old royal forest of the Great Sylve, panoramas that can include far off the Pyrenean peaks on a clear day or extend by incursions to the Garonne to the east. Maps and information in town hall (contact at +33 5 63 02 52 73) or at +33 5 63 64 35 19.

During one of these walks, an enotourism break is welcome at the La Tucayne estate, which perpetuates the culture of the former vineyard of the Cistercian monks! On these hillsides forming a landscape of postcard, are produced wines of appellation saint-sardos. The visit of the cellars is followed by a tasting. Open on Wednesdays and Saturdays or by appointment on +33 5 63 64 48 74.

Fishing enthusiasts are not forgotten: they benefit Bouillac of the course of the Nadesse, tributary of the Garonne, or the pond of Gariès. Regulatory information on +33 5 63 63 01 77.

Finally, for a game of tennis, the court of the town is accessible to visitors. Information on +33 5 63 02 52 73.

Places of interest

Monuments

Events and festivities

Photos

Abbey Grandselve
Abbey Grandselve
See photo
Treasury of the Abbey of Grandselve
Treasury of the Abbey of Grandselve
See photo

Weather

Friday 29 march
Min. 10°C - Max. 16°C
Day
Night
Saturday 30 march
Min. 6°C - Max. 16°C
Day
Night
Sunday 31 march
Min. 8°C - Max. 15°C
Day
Night

Visits, leisure and activities nearby

Leisure activities

Last nameActivity typeRateCity
Water games and wakeboarding at Wampark
Sports sensations23 € Bressols (18.8 km)
Fishing for catfish and other carnivorous fish with a guide
Nature and the great outdoors90 € to 180 € Montauban (27 km)
Virtual reality for teams or individuals
Entertainment24 € to 29 € Blagnac (31 km)
Open-top minibus tour of Toulouse
Culture and education16 € to 29 € Toulouse (37 km)
Toulouse Tourist Pass : monuments, museums, transport + 1 guided tour - Valid for 3 days
Culture and education30 € Toulouse (37 km)

Outings

Last nameOuting typeDifficultyDurationDeparture municipality
Circuit of the two lakes
All-terrain bike itineraryEasy50 minCastelsarrasin (22 km)
The hills of Boudou
All-terrain bike itineraryIntermediate1:50Moissac (29 km)
Walk of the terraces of the Garonne
All-terrain bike itineraryIntermediate1:50Boudou (29 km)
Filhols loop
HikeIntermediate3:30Villemur-sur-Tarn (31 km)
Round of the vines
HikeEasy3:15Villematier (31 km)

Restaurants

Bed & breakfasts

Vacation rentals

Campsites

Hotels

Your holidays
A hotel
A vacation rental
A bed & breakfast
A campsite
A leisure activity
A restaurant
A rental car
A plane ticket
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