Not only was this another flat day of riding, but today the cooler change had come through and it was lovely and fresh this morning. A Sunday market was in full swing just around the corner from our accommodation, and this was a big deal, filling the car park streets around the central covered market area. Not only was the markets with the usual offerings (local produce, fruit and veg, bread, roast chickens, underwear, all sorts of goods) operating, but nearer the river, a ‘vide grenier’ (or car boot sale) with lots of stalls was going as well. After getting some bread, and indulging in a coffee, we were heading off again out of town towards Montauban this time. On the way to the market we saw a Dutch couple, who were older than us, having breakfast. They were on the way home after leaving Holland and going to the south of France, doing a big loop. A reminder that there are some intrepid people out there! The route took us along a little bit of the Garonne Canal, just enough for us to cross with the canal over the Tarn on the Pont Canal du Cacor, which was built in 1844 in brick and stone, with a total length of 356m and a width of 8.35m. After that it was pleasant, though not remarkable, countryside until we entered Montauban, situated on the River Tarn. Montauban is the second oldest of the bastides of southern France. Its foundation dates from 1144 when it was granted a charter. In the 13th century the town suffered much from the ravages of the Albigensian war and from the Inquisition, but by 1317 it had recovered sufficiently to be chosen as the head of a diocese of which the basilica of St Théodard became the cathedral. In 1360, under the Treaty of Brétigny, it was ceded to the English; they were expelled by the inhabitants in 1414. In 1560 the bishops and magistrates embraced Protestantism, expelled the monks, and demolished the cathedral. Ten years later it became one of the four Huguenot strongholds under the Peace of Saint-Germain, and formed a small independent republic. It was the headquarters of the Huguenot rebellion of 1621, and successfully withstood an 86-day siege by Louis XIII. It did not submit to royal authority until after the fall of La Rochelle in 1629, when its fortifications were destroyed by Cardinal Richelieu. The Protestants again suffered persecution after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685. Saint Jacques church is still marked by the cannonballs fired at it during an 86 day siege by the catholic French army in 1621 and every year in September, the city celebrates "les 400 coups" (the 400 shots), which has become a common phrase in French. During World War II, Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa was briefly hidden in a secret vault behind a wine cellar at Montauban. Built with a lot of red brick, the town is attractive, with gardens and public open spaces.