Location: Toulouse
Top Things to do in Toulouse
Countries
What to do and see in Toulouse, Occitanie: The Best Sacred & Religious Sites
The southern France city of Toulouse is a study in contrasts. Visit the Academie des Jeux Floraux, the oldest literary society in the western world, as well as the Galerie du Chateau d'eau, the world's first photography museum. Stroll the Garonne, before visiting France's most beautiful pipe organ at the Saint-Sernin Basilica. Yet for all its medieval architecture, Toulouse is a modern city, home to the European aerospace industry, as well as bars and restaurants in bustling Place du Capitole.
Restaurants in Toulouse
1. Basilique Saint-Sernin
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,434 reviews
Reviewed By KateJourney - Exeter, Canada
When we decided to explore Toulouse, we headed directly to the Musee d'Archaeologie ...and found it right beside the basilica...so after the museum we toured it as well. A lovely church with and interesting crypt with reliquaries...always great to immerse in local history.
2. Church of Les Jacobins
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,610 reviews
Reviewed By kathrynh992 - Sonoma, United States
I visited this historic ( it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the body of St. Thomas Aquinas has been there since 1369) and beautiful church during a Sunday mass. This is an active church with a dedicated congregation. I, along with other visitors, were quiet and respectful of the mass. It was acceptable to very quietly walk the inside perimeter and to unobtrusively take photos (make sure your camera or smart phone is set so that the “click” is silent - the clicking sound when a photo is taken is disruptive). It is difficult to describe the beauty and serenity of this space - the arches, windows, altars, parishioners, and stonework of the structure itself. This is a must-see place.
3. Couvent des Jacobins
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 570 reviews
Reviewed By PhilFGuildford - Leeds, United Kingdom
The Church of the Jacobins has a fascinating history as you would expect from a place of worship that dates back to the 13th century and a significant reason for visiting is the fact that it houses the relics of Thomas Aquinas, who has been described as the medieval church’s greatest scholar; his unfinished Summa Theologiae work made a tremendous impact. And yet some of the site’s history is regrettable; damage caused by Napoleon’s troops here while they used it as a barracks has eroded some of its heritage. Apparently the urine from horses even corroded some of the floor tiles. While sections of original wall painting can still be taken in, one cannot fail to wonder what could have been left had preservation been taken seriously by all of its previous occupants. During my visit I found the interior to be somewhat sparse with predominately bare walls. This is not one of those churches adorned with decorations and religious artworks left, right and centre; in the nave there are huge pillars stretching up to the ceiling and while I was there a variety of coloured lights were shone against them, creating a rainbow effect. There are colourful stain glass windows to take in however. Meanwhile a closer glance at the areas above the interior arches reveals some of the faded decoration which has survived. Some of the best preserved decoration can be found on areas of the ceiling, notably in the chapel of St. Antonin. There are plenty of informative screens which tell us a fascinating history in multiple languages, for instance one of these focuses on Thomas Aquinas. If there is one thing that strikes most visitors to this place, it is surely the sheer height of the vault. Glancing upwards there is a beautifully designed ceiling made out of painted brick, the latter being something that Toulouse is famous for. This is stunning and its patterns are intricate, and yet it is not overwhelming and I feel that there is a simplicity to the design as well. Worth bearing in mind is the Dominican origins of the church; they were a very strict order. The church includes cloisters which are well worth a stroll around. The pillars incorporate stone carvings well above eye level which have clearly survived for hundreds of years; this would appear logical, given what we are told, in that the sections located higher up are out of harm’s way. The gargoyles jutting out from just below the roof are interesting and the tall coniferous trees surrounded by hedges give the garden an attractive appearance. Overall the church is a very worthwhile place to visit for anyone looking to understand religious life in the 13th and 14th centuries, or simply interested in visiting a large, impressive place of worship which is anything but ostentatious.
4. Saint Nicolas Church
5. Cathedrale St-Etienne
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 753 reviews
Reviewed By serena778 - Liverpool, United States
This is a really interesting cathedral, especially from an architectural viewpoint. Its structure isn't typical of a traditional cathedral (it's not symmetrical) but it's beautiful, peaceful, and the area of the city it's in is really nice as well.
