Hôtel Saint-Jean, grand prieuré de Toulouse

Toulouse

The Order of Saint John settled in Toulouse from the beginning of the 12th century, on ground close to the rampart and to the Garonne, where it buried its benefactors in funerary recesses cut into the wall itself — painted decoration of the 13th century can still be seen there. In 1315, three years after the transfer of the property of the Temple, the Toulouse house was raised to the rank of grand priory: with Saint-Gilles it became one of the two heads of the langue of Provence, and administered commanderies from the Quercy to the Pyrenees. The building one sees is much later: the prior Antoine de Roubin de Graveson launched a complete rebuilding in 1665, entrusted to the Toulouse painter and architect Jean-Pierre Rivalz, who raised the west wing between 1668 and 1672, then those of the south and the east from 1680 to 1684. The result, finished in 1685, borrows from Roman baroque — the front on the courtyard takes its inspiration from the Palazzo Chigi — and says clearly enough what an order of chivalry had become in the Grand Siècle: a great landed proprietor. The front on the rue de la Dalbade was lengthened by five bays in 1839.

Wikipédia — Prieuré hospitalier de Toulouse ↗

Getting there : In the very centre of Toulouse, rue de la Dalbade (Carmes or Esquirol metro). Since the middle of the 2000s the building has housed the offices of the Occitanie regional directorate of cultural affairs: the courtyard and the staircase can be seen during the European Heritage Days and on visits organised by the tourist office; the front is visible from the street at all times.

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound