Basilica of Saint-Sernin

You’ve reached the famous Basilica of Saint-Sernin. It’s quite impressive, and for good reason! It’s in fact the largest Romanesque church in France! To give you an idea, the nave stretches the length of a soccer field, and you could easily fit a 7-storey building under the vault! So much for proportions. Back then, they thought big, as they had to accommodate all the pilgrims passing through while on their way to Compostela. In 1998, the basilica was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as part of the Way of St. James pilgrimage route. Its monumental construction spanned over 200 years, between the 11th and 13th centuries. Prior to becoming a major stopover on this famous pilgrimage route, the edifice was built to house the relics of the city’s first bishop, Saturnin, or Sernin in Occitan, who was martyred by the Romans on the Place du Taur in the 3rd century. Legend has it that the bishop, having refused to participate in the sacrifice of a bull in the name of the emperor, was tied to the animal and dragged through the streets until he met his death. In the 18th century, the saint’s tomb was transferred to an opulent Baroque sarcophagus surmounted by a statue of the saint, which you’ll have the opportunity to admire inside. The basilica boasts an impressive collection of relics, including a thorn from the crown of Christ. Toulousians will tell you that only the Vatican has more, and that may well be true! If you pay close attention, you may notice 2 feet sticking out of nowhere on a column. In fact, there used to be an entire fresco that has faded over time. Those are the feet of Saint Christopher, the patron saint of travelers. Pilgrims would come and touch them for protection on their journey to Spain. They’re a little hard to find, so look for an offering box to Saint Christopher just below. Inside and outside the church, you’ll find art enthusiasts taking the time to carefully examine the delicately sculpted column capitals. There are over 260 of them, attesting to the finesse of Romanesque art. You can also admire the basilica’s splendid octagonal bell tower, a fusion of Gothic and Romanesque architecture, towering 65 m in the Toulousian sky.  The basilica is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I’ll leave you to explore and I’ll meet you at the exit to continue our tour.