Toulouse Capitole - the first day (the 5th of September 2011)

I was given the possibility to travel back to Toulouse and  although the purpose of the visit was work related, I had an afternoon free to move about and revisit the Capitole Square I had been to many years ago (the only thing I visited then) and finally take the opportunity to visit the Capitole.

It is said to have taken many generations to achieve the harmonious arrangement of the Capitole Square,  which not only is very impressive but also known as the heart of the city. 

The facade of the Capitole, housing the City Hall and the theatre, was built from 1750 through to 1760 and features eight marble columns symbolising the eight Capitouls, the left fronton having been decorated with statues of Clemence, Isaure and Pallas and the right fronton with representations of Tragedy and Comedy, with Strength and Justice in the middle.

As we walk into the courtyard there is a 1546 portal surmounted by a statue of Henry IV topped by a decorated slate dome, which has been added to it in 1607.

The sight of a light aircraft  prior to having climbed up the main stairway leading to the rooms of the upper floor caught my attention and I was soon  visiting a tribute exhibition celebrating Antoine de Saint Exupery (with many of his personal belongings, manuscripts and drawings being displayed) and Toulouse, today recognised as the historical cradle of Aviation.

If the Capitole is impressive, as seen from the outside, the moment one walks up the stairway the paintings covering the walls left me in a state of "speechlessness" ... to the right at the entrance The 14th century Floral games painting by  Jean Paul Laurents ...  The solemn session of the Floral games (by him as well to be seen in the midfloor) ... the Apotheosis of Clémence Isaure by his son Paul Albert  (to be seen in the middle ceiling) ... Raymond VI by René Ravault (to the left at the entrance) ... The poet at the top of the stairway.

 I don't think I was prepared for what I was to see in any of the rooms I visited afterwards ... 

The Paul Gervais room, used at one time to celebrate weddings entirely decorated with  allegories on the theme of Love was entirely decorated by P. Gervais ...  The Salle des Lustres (Hall of Fame) decorated by a host of artists from Toulouse ... and the Pas Perdus room decorated by the Impressionist inspired Henri-Martin ...

I had to "move on" and still try to visit Saint- Etienne Cathedral, the Basilica of   Saint Sernin and whichever I might be able to "squeze" in the limited amount of time I had ... otherwise I would have stayed all afternoon long admiring these works of Art ...

(to be continued)