An Insider’s Guide to the Best Things to do in Montargis

Last Updated on 10th December 2023 by Sophie Nadeau

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Thanks to its abundance of waterways and meandering canals, Montargis is actually known as the Venice of Gâtinais. As with many such monikers, I visited the town doubtful that anywhere could live up to the famed Italian city. Nevertheless, Montargis lies directly to the south of Paris and is certainly worth wandering around for a couple of hours, particularly if you’re in the area. Here’s an insider’s guide to the best things to do in Montargis.

What is Montargis known for?

Montargis is particularly well-known for its history during the Hundred Years’ Water. At this time, the town’s strategic position close to a forest and midway between the Loire Valley and Paris meant that the Earl of Warwick besieged the town with artillery.

At this time, the residents of Montargis sabotaged the surrounding water ways, meaning that many of the besieging Plantagenets drowned. Eventually a commander who would go on to serve under Joan of Arc led his army to break the siege, leading to the first major victory for Charles VII during the war.

Today, when you’re wandering around the town, you would never have guessed that this small and sleepy town once played such a crucial role in the outcome of the Hundred Years’ War. On the 25th July, 1525, a huge fire engulfed much of the town, leaving only the church and castle intact. Almost everything else you see in Montargis was constructed after this date.

The town is only around 30 km away from Nemours, a charming French town that has retained much of its medieval architecture, including a central fortified château.

Best things to do in Montargis

Wander around the old town

Like with many medieval towns in France, one of the best ways to spend an afternoon in Montargis is simply to stroll around the cobbled lanes and over the medieval bridges and allow the town to reveal itself to you. There are actually a staggering 131 roads and footbridges scattered across Montargis.

The historic centre of Montargis is pretty small and so you can pretty much cover it over the course of an hour or so. If you want to visit the museums and go for a coffee, then you’ll want to set aside half a day to see everything in town.

The Quartier de la Pêcherie

While strolling around any of the central parts of Montargis is pretty pleasant, the most gorgeous place to explore is the old fishing district, where fishermen who once supplied vendors in Paris with live fish once lived. Today, the area is part of the historic bridge trail and is home to pastel hued façades and plenty of foot bridges.

Place Deng Xiaoping

Montargis has strong cultural ties to China as between 1912 and 1927, around 4000 intellectuals came to France from China as part of a work-study programme. The aim of the course was to learn more about life in the west.

Around 300 of these people chose to settle in Montargis. If you want to learn more about Montargis and its connection to China, then you can head to the Musée Historique de l’Amitié Franco-Chinoise.

Musée Girodet

For such a small town, there are a surprising number of museums worth exploring in Montargis. One of these is a cultural space dedicated to the life and works of Anne-Louis Girodet-Trioson, one of France’s greatest 19th-century painters. Visit today and you’ll find a fine selection of paintings, sculptures, and drawings.

Musée du Cuir et des Tanneurs

One of the more niche museums located in Montargis is that of Musée du Cuir et des Tanneurs. This museum lies in the shadow of the old castle and highlights the history of tanneries in the region.

Buy local produce

If you’re the kind of traveller who enjoys coming home with a souvenir from your trip, then Montargis and its surrounding region offers several to choose from.

The most famous produce from Montargis itself are praline almonds, which have been produced by Mazet Confiseur since 1636. If you want to learn more about the sugary treat, then you can visit The Maison de la Prasline

Another option is Bell’de Loing beer, a Belgian blonde ale style beer which is brewed in nearby Amilly. Finally, honey and saffron are also produced in the Gâtinais region.

Church of Sainte Marie-Madeleine

There are a handful of churches in town, though one of the most beautiful is that which is dedicated to Mary Magdalen and dates back to 1183, though significant additions were added in the 15th and 16th-centuries.

The church was restored in the mid 19th-century by the famous Viollet-le-Duc (the same man who restored Mont Saint Michel and the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris).

Now, the church is a pretty unique blend of architectural styles and boasts a particularly fine Renaissance chevet (the eastern end of the church). Another beautiful feature are the well-preserved stained glass windows by the Lobin workshop in Tours.

Town Hall (Mairie)

One of the more historic buildings in town that you should be sure to check out during your visit is the town hall. This building dates back to the 15th-century.

See the remains of Montargis Castle

Once upon a time, almost every important town and city in France would have had its own castle and keep, presiding on an outlook above the rest of the town in order to keep the settlement safe from would-be attackers.

A fair bit of Montargis Castle remains today and the structure once served as a Royal Residence. The history of the castle dates all the way back to the 6th-century and some of the remains include parts of the crypt and cellars of the royal garden, as well as the square tower of Philip II Augustus.

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