EATING IN MONTAUBAN – IN THE FESTIVAL
The “Echiquier Club Montalbanais” will run a refreshment stand where you can eat and drink throughout the 400 Coups Chess Festival.
Drinks, pastries, desserts, and sweets will be available every day to keep you going between rounds.
To keep the refreshment stand running smoothly and guarantee the best service, we are introducing a “consumption card” system with cards available for €5, €10, €25, and €50.
Once purchased, each time you visit the refreshment stand, the person serving you will note your consumption on the card until it is used up.
At the end of the day or the Festival, if you have not used up your card, we will of course refund the remaining credit!
Feel free to purchase your consumption card as soon as you register. It will be given to you at the various checkpoints.
A catering/sandwich service is also being set up with a partner to provide you with food during lunch breaks.
€5 Card
To satisfy your thirst and recharge your batteries throughout the day.
€10 Card
Ideal for covering your weekend needs
€25 Card
Enough to keep you fed throughout the week
€50 Family Card + €5 free
Ideal for enjoying the whole Festival when you’re with friends or family
EATING IN MONTAUBAN – IN THE CITY CENTER
🍽️ Gastronomy in Montauban: A journey to the heart of southwestern France
For participants in the 400 Coups Festival, discovering Montauban’s gastronomic scene will be a real pleasure. Located in the heart of Tarn-et-Garonne, the city benefits from the rich terroir of the Southwest, synonymous with generosity and authenticity.
🍖 Savory specialties not to be missed
Montalbanaise cuisine is typical of Occitanie, showcasing local produce:
- Montauban Cassoulet: Although originally from Lauragais, Montauban offers its own version of this iconic dish, often enriched with duck confit, sausage, and garlic sausage. It is the ultimate comfort food.
- Foie Gras and Confit: Tarn-et-Garonne is a land of duck and goose farming. Foie gras, whether pan-fried or in a terrine, as well as confit (duck legs, gizzards), are staples of local cuisine.
- Local Produce: Depending on the season, you’ll find plates enhanced by Quercy truffles (the “black diamond”) or wild mushrooms. Don’t miss Friton, a rustic charcuterie made from pieces of pork or duck confit.
🍰 Montalbanaise sweets
The city also has its own sweet treats:
- La Montalbane: THE city’s signature pastry. It is a moist cake, a brioche filled with candied fruit and sprinkled with sugar crystals. It embodies the simple indulgence of the Southwest.
- Le Boulet de Montauban: A historic local confectionery from Maison Pécou. It is a roasted hazelnut coated in chocolate.
- Other Desserts: Try the Tourtière (a thin puff pastry with apples and Armagnac) or the Pescajoune (a kind of thick apple pancake).
🍷 For aperitifs and accompaniments
- Local wines: Enjoy local wines, particularly Fronton wines (mostly Négrette) or Chasselas de Moissac (AOP table grape).
📍 Where to eat?
The heart of the gastronomic scene is around Place Nationale and the adjacent streets, where you will find a wide variety of establishments.
| Restaurant Category | Atmosphere/Style | Examples of places (non-exhaustive list) |
| Traditionnal / Bistronomic | French and Southwestern cuisine, highlighting local products. | Les Terrasses de l’Empereur, Restaurant Nous, Chez Ernest, L’Estanquet. |
| Gourmet / Refined | Places for an exceptional dinner, with creative cuisine. | Au Fil de l’Eau, Du Bruit en Cuisine. |
| Culinary Diversity | A wide variety of choices to suit all tastes. | Italian (Da Mario), Lebanese (Kaslik), Vegetarian (Namasthé, Le Bohème). |
Practical tip: For popular restaurants in the city center, it is strongly recommended to book in advance, especially if you are coming as a group or in the evening.