TOULOUSE
Precision, simplicity and geometry: discover the architectural legacy of Art Deco in Toulouse during the interwar period. Following Art Nouveau (the Belle Époque) and the First World War, a new wave of joy and artistic effervescence swept through a Europe in the midst of progress. The ‘Pink City’ too embraced numerous Art Deco buildings to the sound of jazz bands…
In France, the Cornudet Act, enacted in 1919 and amended in 1924, sought to oversee the country’s reconstruction and required towns to draw up a plan for development, beautification and expansion. In Toulouse, implementation of the Act was delayed, but the city council embarked on major projects to provide the city with social, educational and sporting facilities.
This tour places you within the context of the 1920s to the 1940s. Driven by both municipal and private initiatives, dozens of monuments and buildings transformed the face of Toulouse. Elegant and unusual landmarks punctuate this tour with delightful visual surprises: the Théâtre des Variétés, the post office, the La Dépêche du Midi building, and even Dr Charry’s villa… The guide will show you how to appreciate Art Deco and its regionalist touches through the ‘ocean liner’-style buildings, mosaics, wrought-ironwork and brickwork patterns.
Guided tour organised by the Toulouse Tourist Office as part of European Heritage Days. Booking essential; places are limited.
