Eight Centuries of History
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Visit the Convent Eight centuries of history Open all year long from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm The Jacobins, a Dominican monastery built in 1229, is • Game tour with digital tablet (available in english) • Exhibitions, thematic visits and activities regularly proposed an exceptional testimony to southern gothic design. in the cloister and the refectory. This brick architecture uses the same principles deve- loped for the cathedrals of the kingdom of France. Refectory Cloister admission • Peak season (from 1st June to 30th September) : full price 5€ / reduced-price 3€ • Low season (from 1st October to 31st May) : full price 4€ / reduced-price 2,50€ A MONASTERY • Game tour : + 4€ per tablet (in addition to the entrance ticket) > Entrance for Free: ICOM, journalist, student, under 18 years, Cloister Saint Anthoninus Mairie de Toulouse-Tisséo, and Pass tourisme cards, etc. chapel > Ask at the entrance for more information on concessions and groups Printing : Imprimerie Toulouse Métropole - July 2018 - Do not throw on the public highway AT THE HEART chapterhouse Chapel of the Virgin Sacristy OF THE CITY Gift-shop © Jacques Sierpinski Church Palm-tree A compelling past A powerful symbol EIGHT In 1215 in Toulouse, Dominic By deciding to return the relics of of Osma founded the Order of St. Thomas Aquinas to his bro- Romanesque portal Romanesque Preachers that bears his name - thers, Pope Urban V sent them the Dominican Order. a clear sign. He supported the Entrance At the time of the battle against community of Preachers in its the Cathar faith, this community role as teachers and educators. CENTURIES placed dialogue and discussion at Today, these honoured relics are the heart of its way of life and its kept in the church. teachings. An eventful destiny You are entering a place of worship. Please behave accordingly. As such, it played a major role in During the revolution, the the creation of the first university monastery was transformed into . of Toulouse in 1229. For many barracks. The cloister was partly OF HISTORY years the classes took place in the destroyed, and stables and an Accessibility to visitors with reduced mobility city’s monasteries and convents, infirmary were fitted out. The (some areas are currently being converted). in particular at The Jacobins, the Jacobins did however maintain a bell of which was used to mark strong identity that attracted the Couvent des Jacobins the times for class. attention of the first inspector of Place des Jacobins (entrance by church) Historical Monuments, Prosper 31 000 Toulouse GRATIS Mérimée. Tél. : +33 (0)5 61 22 23 82 The renovation of the medieval [email protected] monastery could therefore get www.jacobins.toulouse.fr FREE underway. Graphic design ■ Studio Pastre - © Patrick Daubert, Bernard Delorme et Jacques Sierpinski. The cloister The refectory A medieval (1251-1310) (1303) monastery Meditating and Meeting At the heart of the city communicating This is one of the largest monastic The nerve centre of monastery refectories of the medieval era; its As soon as you enter the church, you life, this area for movement and size reveals the importance of the will be surprised by how light it is and meditation is decorated with ele- community. Construction was fini- by the majesty of the space. gant columns and marble capitals. shed in time for Christmas 1303. By exploring the cloisters you will The animal and floral decorations It was here that Gaston Phébus come to understand how this com- evoke the talent of local workshops hosted a lavish banquet for King munity’s living space was organised. that produced for a large number Charles VI and his entourage during However, some buildings are no longer of other monasteries. The two gal- their visit to Toulouse at the end of visible today, including additional leries destroyed during the army the 14th century. cloisters, study rooms, the cells, the occupation were restored in 1964. infirmary, etc. Saint Anthoninus chapel The Church Saint Thomas d’Aquin (1335-1341) (1229-1350) (1224/25-1274) For eternal rest Coming together Teaching The chapterhouse (1299-1301) This small building was financed The originality and depth of Thomas’ The brothers occupied the nave near Deciding together by the bishop of Pamiers, Dominic the cloisters. On the other side of thinking make it a symbol of higher Grima. It is dedicated to the patron the columns, the congregation had education. Since the 14th century, his The monks held their meetings here. saint of his town, saint Anthoninus, a direct entrance to the city. relics have attracted a large number of Organised democratically, they decided on and preserves the sepulchres of These immense pillars hold up the pilgrims. They come from all over the their activities, managed their everyday life, religious figures. The ceiling is deco- ogival - or ribbed - vaults. The last world to meditate near these sacred and voted to make the decisions that struc- rated with scenes from the apoca- one brings together the ribs of the remains, today placed under the high tured their actions. It is also here that the lypse, with the tale of the saint’s life palm-tree, 28 m (92 ft) above the altar of the church of the Jacobins. On University’s founding charter was kept, as depicted on the walls. ground. This very bold solution 28 January each year (the feast of Saint well as the seal that was used to authenti- made it possible to finish the chevet Thomas) the Dominicans commemorate cate the students’ diplomas. (apse) and open up the long bays the translation of his relics to Toulouse. that let in the light and colour. The tower bell (1275-1298) Calling together This octagonal tower, made up of 4 levels, is adjacent to the north side of the church. Forty-five metres (148 ft) high and adorned with pointed arches, it ins- pired a great many buildings in the region. In the past, the upper part housed the university bell that set the rhythm of city life. .