Rieux-Volvestre A walk through the medieval city… L’ARIZE

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ESCOUSSIÈRE DES PAOUS RUE DES DONADES 2 3

1 TEYCHENÉS DES RUE PLACE DE LASTIC DE PLACE

RUE DE L’EVÊCHÉ RUE DE L’ORT 5 OLD SEMINAR 1

9 PARC DES JACOBINS After the French Revolution, the

RUE DU FOUR DU RUE PONTON seminar, dating from the 15th

RUE DU COMTÉ

DE PÊCHE and 16th centuries, became the RUE DE L’EVÊCHÉ DE RUE headquarters of the town hall. Today, COURTIOU HALF-TIMBERED 2 it is also home to the Tourist office. There is a wing devoted to the local HOUSE history museum where you can 8 This house is noteworthy 6 discover many remains of convents RUE D’AURIAC for its beautiful two-storey and capitals... as well as the local overhung facade. Well worth custom of shooting the Papogay, an 7 a look, the facade uses a dual archery tradition dating back to the type of timber panelling: both 14th century. a diamond and herringbone pattern. There is also an RUE SAINT-CIZI RUE DU SALLES DU RUE overhanging roof with two sculpted windows. On the TOURIST MIREPOIX DU RUE ground floor was the old stall; the upper floors were the living CIRCUIT quarters. RUE DE L’HÔPITAL The entire structure dates from the end of 15th century. 1 OLD SEMINAR 2 HALF-TIMBERED HOUSE 3 SAINT-MARY’S CATHEDRAL It was renovated in 1970.

4 LAJOUS BRIDGE 5 PARC DES JACOBINS 6 AURIAC BRIDGE AND CHAPEL OF NOTRE-DAME DE BONNE GARDE

7 LA TOURASSE (BIG TOWER) 8 LA HALLE 9 THE BISHOPRIC, THE VALTAN TOWER, THE HOUSE «LAGUENS» SAINT-MARY’S 3 LAJOUS BRIDGE 4 AURIAC BRIDGE 6 CATHEDRAL Use the bridge to get a AND CHAPEL OF view of the cathedral’s It is built in the meridional style fortifications. The bridge was NOTRE-DAME DE with thick walls, sometimes built in 1683 and renovated in 1785. BONNE GARDE more than 3 metres thick and It linked the town with la Casterette supporting pillars. Perched on a where the feudal castle was located, PARC DES 5 bend on the Arize river, it formed on the current site of the cemetery. The chapel, more accurately an part of the city’s defensive The city gate, at the entrance to the JACOBINS oratory, protected the town against structure. It was built in the 14th bridge, was demolished in the 19th the Huguenots (protestants) and century on the site of the 11th century. It bore a monument to the The red brick building from the flooding. century chapel of Sainte-Marie glory of Louis XIV. 16th century, a unique remnant of Frescos, by the painter des Aygas whose crenellated wall The remains of the framework of the Jacobins convent, which housed Bénezet, depict a knight and a can still be seen on the north-east this monument can be seen on dormitories and kitchens in the bishop putting the town under the section. On the front facade, the the outside wall of the cathedral’s basement. protection of Notre Dame du Pont. remains of the old entrance can sacristy. This sanctuary served as a National be seen. The Dominicans had a presence here from 1272, until the Revolution. Guard sentry post during the It was redesigned in the 17th Opposite the wrought iron gate, close Revolution. century. The bell tower, with its to the children’s playground, you can In 1875, a flood caused damage to impressive octagonal base and make out the intersecting ribs which the wash house end of the bridge, dating from the 14th century, used to be part of the cloister. In the as well as to several buildings. The was described as «one of the 19th century, the building became a section at the town end remains most beautiful in the kingdom». free school for young girls. intact. The final three stories, competed in the 17th century, with mitre- shaped arch openings, are a Cross the bridge to get a view of the Arize and replica of the bell tower of the the cathedral. Retrace your steps and take the Jacobins in Toulouse. Escoussière des Paous along the Arize. Enter the Pick up the rue du Solan du Comte using the Go back up rue d’Auriac and take the first road on parking area for a view of the bell tower. Take a steps opposite the Arize. your left, rue de Mire-poix. Continue along it as far right along rue des Teychenés as far as the parc View of the Arize and the Pont d’Auriac. as rue de l’Hôpital and take an immediate right onto des Jacobins. Take a left down rue du Courtiou. rue de Salles as far as la Tourasse on your left. LA TOURASSE 7 THE BISHOPRIC, 9 (BIG TOWER) THE VALTAN TOWER, THE HOUSE LAGUENS This stately tower dating from the 13th century belonged to the LA HALLE 8 WOULD YOU LIKE TO Marquefave family. It was bought by The Bishopric gateway was decorated the town of Rieux in 1517 to become The frame is entirely wooden with the coats of arms of bishops EXTEND YOUR WALK IN a consistory for holding meetings of pinned and dates from the 15th from the 14th and 15th centuries that THE VILLAGE ? church members, then it was a town century. It was restored in 2004 were torn down by the revolutionaries. hall until the revolution. and the pillars were fully redesigned. On either side of the gate, arrow slits In olden times, a market was held were converted for firing muskets. Jail cells were set up on the ground there three times a week. The crenellated tower with a spire, floor during the revolutionary period known as the Valtan Tower, takes its From the Auriac bridge, you can If evidence of fraudulent behaviour and in the 19th century to hold name from the bishop who decided to follow a path along the river was discovered, the goods were deserters from the Napoleonic wars. rebuild the bishop’s palace in 1510. Arize and climb a few steps up confiscated and distributed among for a view over the river. In 1923, the upstairs was converted Its construction is Moorish in the city’s poor. Opposite, there is into an Italian-style theatre. Later, it inspiration. The steeple is in the shape Two pannels are available about a house decorated with sculpted was transformed into a cinema. The of a minaret. the Auriac bridge and the mill. faces from the 17th century. They building was shut down in 1963. depict, left to right, top to bottom: The buildings are currently in use as a The building can be visited as a group Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, Poseidon, medical centre. booking or when the Théâtrales de Saturn, Bacchus. Rieux theatre festival takes place at Some claim that the one that sits the start of August. above the front entrance depicted the owner!

N.B : Please note that the pontoon is Go back down rue d’Auriac. wheelchair accessible. Go as far as la halle, on the right. Descendez la rue de l’Evêché. But not the path and the steps farther on. RIEUX-VOLVESTRE, HALT COMPOSTELLANE

Throughout the Middle Ages, pilgrimages were gathering more interest. Chapels, churches, oratories and hospitals were multiplying to accommodate the increased number of pilgrims and travelers. At Rieux-Volvestre,there was a fraternity (brotherhood), a hospital, an oratory, Saint-Jacques’ chapel and a reliquary TOURIST OFFICE bust. It is show in the archives, that the INTERCOMMUNAL OF VOLVESTRE Compostela issued in 1777, attests to the Jacquaire cult existing in the town and in the Volvestre. 9 rue de l’évêché The route through the Volvestre is 31310 RIEUX-VOLVESTRE an alternative path on the way to Tél : +33 (0)5 61 87 63 33 Saint-Jacques de Compostela. It follows the same direction of the Garonne or Via Garona, it is located between Via Tolosana and the road leading TOURIST INFORMATION POINT to Piedmont. IN Today, the Via Garona is a hiking path, 170 km long, it links the sites of Santiago de 111 avenue de Toulouse Compostela, between Toulouse (Basilica 31390 CARBONNE of St. Sernin) and Saint-Bertrand-de- Tél : +33 (0)5 36 17 20 00 Comminges (St. Mary’s Cathedral). It crosses 41 municipalities, which are all located in the Haute-Garonne departement, TOURIST INFORMATION POINT in which you can find cities like, Toulouse, IN MONTESQUIEU-VOLVESTRE , Noah, Rieux Volvestre, Martres- Tolosane, Saint-Martory, Saint-Gaudens 20 place de la Halle and Saint-Bertrand de Comminges. 31310 MONTESQUIEU-VOLVESTRE Tél : +33 (0)5 61 90 19 55 Please do not hesitate to come to the Tourism Office to find out more information: e.g. The documentation space on the Jacquaire theme, practical tips for the tourisme.volvestre.fr preparation of the pilgrimage, La Compostela [email protected] in Latin (1777), the bust of Saint-Jacques and much more.