TOULOUSE
Running as an extension of Rue Saint-Rome, Rue des Filatiers forms the backbone of a neighbourhood that has been dedicated to trade since ancient times. Yet there is something extra special here… here is a ‘retrospective’ tour: throughout the ages, the neighbourhood has stood at the crossroads of the city’s institutional influences. From the ancient forum, where it lay on the axis of the main gate of the Roman city, it became a battleground between merchants and magistrates during the Renaissance. Then, having been the subject of urban experiments in the 19th century, it became a working-class neighbourhood in the early 20th century.
Ultimately, this neighbourhood now boasts the city’s most recognisable landmarks, notably Place de la Trinité and its mermaids…
So, after exploring the area, you can form your own opinion on the soul of this neighbourhood: which side prevails? The merchants with their sophisticated half-timbered façades, or the parliamentarians with their mansions? But might it not, these days, be the restaurants and cafés with their reputation for a friendly atmosphere, interspersed with small vintage shops and shoppers at the covered market?
This tour is accessible to people with reduced mobility.
This tour may include cobbled sections and minor obstacles on the pavement. It is therefore recommended that you take a companion with you.
Guided tour organised by the tourist office as part of European Heritage Days. Booking essential; places are limited.
