Description:

Moissac, in the Tarn-et-Garonne has one major tourist attraction, the Abbey of Saint Pierre.  The original construction date of the Abbey is in some dispute, but historical documentation attributes its creation to Saint Didier the Bishop of Cahors, in the middle of the seventh century.

Much of the original town was destroyed when the river Tarn burst its banks in March 1930 leaving 617 houses ruined and 120 people dead.  The Abbey was left undamaged and its cloisters are the main attraction of the town today.

The centre of the town is mostly closed to traffic now, with a number of street cafes making it a pleasant place to while away a few hours.

Geography

The town of Moissac on the north bank of the river Tarn is 30 Km north west of Montauban and 40 Km east of Agen in the department of Tarn-et-Garonne.  It is on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela and the Saint-Pierre abbey church and cloister are listed among the World Heritage Sites of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela.

Tourism

The real attraction of Moissac is the Abbey of St Pierre which is right in the centre of the town.  The Abbeys cloisters are one of the oldest and most beautiful in France.  The Abbey has a 12^th century tympanum in the south porch that depicts Christ in Majesty, right hand raised in benediction, the Book of Life in his hand, surrounded by the evangelists and the elders of the Apocalypse as described by St John in the Book of Revelation.

The cloisters were very nearly lost in the 19^th century to make way for a railway line, but following the building becoming listed, the plans changed and only the Refectory was demolished.  It seems inconceivable that their demolition was even considered, but thankfully they were saved.  Entry to the cloisters is via the tourist office and the entrance charge is 6€.

A short walk from the town centre is the Canal de Garonne and the River Tarn.  The canal is the second half of the Canal Deux Mers, which with the Canal du Midi, links the Atlantic to the Mediterranean.  Once an important trading route, the canal is now only used by pleasure boats.

The River Garonne is broad here and spanned by the Pont Napoleon which was completed in the 19^th century.  Take time to stroll along the bank before heading back to a town centre café for a drink and to admire the Abbey.

The tourist office can provide details of three walking route around the town, each with a different theme.  Route one concentrates on the Abbey and its surrounds, route two takes you along the Canal de Garonne and River Tarn, while route three gives an overview of Moissac and the Tarn countryside.

Transport

Moissac is conveniently locates just a few miles from the A62 motorway making access by car very easy.  Toulouse and its international airport a Blagnac can easily be reached in under an hour.

The town has a train station and the nearest TGV station is Montauban, around 30 Km to the East.  The train journey from Montauban to Moissac takes 20 minutes.

An interesting way to arrive would be by boat.  Several boating holiday companies operate fleets in the area and the centre of town is only a short stroll away from the moorings.

Moissac website has more information and and english language tourist guide to download.

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