Jacobins Convent

You’re about to enter the very heart of a spectacular monumental complex! The Jacobins convent consists of a church, a cloister, a chapter house, a refectory and Saint-Antonin’s chapel. Entrance to the church is free; for the rest of the premises you’ll need a ticket. As imposing as it is, this religious complex was built by a mendicant order, the Order of Preachers, more commonly known as the Dominicans, also called Jacobins, hence the name! Friars Preachers generally lived in monasteries in the middle of nowhere, but in the 12th and 13th centuries, they settled in city centers to be closer to the faithful and to live more easily off their charity. It was a wealthy capitoul who financed the project. And it’s a good thing he did, for he left us a jewel of medieval art crafted in brick. The church is definitely worth a visit. Frankly, it’s impressive. When standing beneath its high vaults, bathed in light, you’re almost overcome by a sensation of weightlessness. The stone palm tree with its 22 leaf veins is the star of the show. A one-of-a-kind masterpiece! Originally, the church was quite plain, half the size and half the height. It was later decided to expand it by installing the palm-tree structure in question! A real architectural feat, and yet we still haven’t found out who designed it!  The brick walls are entirely painted in trompe-l’œil style to resemble marble, and further brighten up the room alongside the gigantic windows. Beneath the altar are the relics of Saint Thomas Aquinas, venerated since 1369. These are first-class relics, meaning that they are real earthly remains of the saint’s body. If you wish to visit the cloister, you must pay an entrance fee. It’s a large rectangular garden representing the Garden of Eden, and framed by 160 marble columns. The cloister serves as the central junction connecting all the buildings within the convent complex. It invites visitors to meditate and reflect on their spirituality. A true haven of peace. Come and take a look inside the Saint-Antonin chapel where you’ll discover a cartoon made in the 14th century! Imagine, we’re talking about a time when hardly anyone knew how to read! Sacred texts come to life through a series of painted scenes, among them the Apocalypse and even the legend of Saint Antonin; it’s his chapel after all. He was thrown from the top of the capitol, saved by an angel, only to be plunged into a cauldron of boiling oil! He emerged unscathed from his ordeal, fascinating the crowds. Unfortunately, the lower part of the scenery is damaged. This is because, during the 19th century war, the French army used the chapel as a horse infirmary. But it’s still a must-see when visiting Toulouse.