TOULOUSE
Place Wilson, like a temporal mille-feuille, encapsulates several historical periods. It was created from scratch following the demolition of the medieval ramparts in the early 19th century and serves as a reminder that public spaces must now be organised to allow for freer and more open movement.
It is around this square that the guide will take you in search of hidden gems. What if the Victor Hugo market-car park were a masterpiece of functional Brutalist architecture? What if we revealed why there is that mysterious ‘T’ in Rue St Antoine du T? Why is the Chapel of the Blue Penitents so well hidden? Secrets, destruction and embellishments – few know the history of these streets, though they are so busy, which will lead you all the way to the Augustins.
Then, discover the Musée des Beaux-Arts des Augustins. A former 14th-century convent, it became one of France’s oldest museums as early as 1793. The guide will explain some of its masterpieces. Marvel at the grace of a curl of hair in the medieval sculptures and seek out the brilliance of an Orientalist pigment in the modern paintings… From the Romanesque Gallery to the Red Salon, the guide will immerse you in dazzling artistic worlds.
Good to know:
– Between 15 June and 15 September, during orange and red heat alerts and when the temperature is 35 or above, adjustments are made to the tour route and the duration of the visit is shortened to 1 hour 30 minutes. In the event of a red heat alert, tours are cancelled and refunded.
