Roman Tolosa
Toulouse, known as the Pink City, is one of the major cities in southwestern France and the historical capital of Languedoc. In a previous article, we explored why Toulouse earned the moniker La Cité des Violettes. Today, we delve into how its distinctive architectural style, characterized by red-pink clay bricks and tiles, led to its second nickname Ville Rose.
The use of bricks as a building material was introduced by the Romans in the 1st century AD, during the time when the city was known as Tolosa and was part of the Narbonnaise Province.
Tolosa sprawled across clay terraces formed by the retreat of the Garonne River after the last glacial era, approximately 10,000 years ago. Stone was scarce in the vicinity of Tolosa, but clay was abundant. The Romans mined clay from the nearby hills of Jolimont and Pech-David. This clay possessed a high concentration of iron oxide, imparting a pink hue to it when fired.
They utilized it to craft bricks, known locally as “briques foraines,” as well as canal-type tiles. These materials were not only economical and simple to produce but also provided insulation and were eco-friendly. Unfortunately, only a few remnants of this ancient city have endured the ravages of time.
A pink city built by the affluent merchants of blue pastel
For generations, the red-pink bricks were utilized not only in constructing the city’s common residences, but also in erecting religious and governmental structures. This distinct pink brick architecture gave birth to the Languedoc Romanesque and Languedoc Gothic styles.
Prime examples include the Basilica of St. Sernin, one of Europe’s largest Romanesque structures, and the church of the Jacobins Convent.
The pink bricks also constructed numerous private mansions and official buildings commissioned by Toulouse’s wealthy merchants and magistrates.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, Toulouse, the Pink City, emerged as a prominent hub for the pastel trade. Indeed, pastel dye brought immense prosperity to its merchants, who constructed opulent mansions to showcase their social standing. To this day, Toulouse boasts some of the most magnificent private residences in Europe.
Capitole de Toulouse
The city’s magistrates followed suit! Known as the capitouls, they were annually elected by the districts to form the municipal council, which governed Toulouse from the 12th century until the French Revolution.
The Capitole they constructed in 1190 underwent a reconstruction during the 17th century, yet still used the characteristic pink-red bricks.
However, various materials contribute to its striking pink exterior. The eight marble columns supporting the pediment symbolize the initial eight capitoulats or districts of Toulouse.
The white stone hails from Beleze-en-Comminges in the Pyrénées, while the creamy limestone comes from Agen and the sandstone from Carcassonne and Pech-David Hill. Today, this remarkable edifice houses Toulouse’s city hall and Le Capitole Theatre.
In the 19th century, Toulouse’s architectural landscape saw a shift when the Virebent family introduced the first clay facade ornaments, still adorning numerous structures throughout the city. In subsequent years, pink-red bricks fell out of favour, briefly replaced by yellow bricks.
The Pink City
The combination of bricks and architectural details results in a spectrum of hues that transform with the daylight. They appear pink in the morning, transition to crimson under the midday sun, and take on a purple hue at nightfall, as the sun retreats behind the city’s rooftops. Interestingly, the term “Ville Rose” officially emerged only in the early 20th century, notably appearing on the cover of a Toulouse tourist office booklet.
Today, Toulouse the Pink City ranks as the 4th largest city in France, following Paris, Marseille, and Lyon and boasts a lively atmosphere as a bustling university town.
Established by Raymond VII, Count of Toulouse, in 1229, the university endured closure during the French Revolution only to be reinstated in 1896.
Toulouse the Pink City also notably stands as the European hub of the aerospace industry, home to Airbus.
And let’s not forget that it is celebrated for its renowned rugby team, Stade Toulousain, as well as its delectable culinary delights, including cassoulet and sausage, and, of course, its emblematic violets!
Department of Haute-Garonne
Coordinates: Lat 43.604652 – Long 1.444209
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Header by Marc souviro CC BY-SA 2.5 – Capitole by Ceridwen CC SA 1.0 – Timber framed house and Basilique St Sernin by FrDr CC BY-SA 4.0 – Amphitheatre by Lhaw 31 CC BY-SA 3.0
