Notre-Dame du Taur, Toulouse, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

Notre-Dame du Taur is a Gothic brick church on Rue du Taur in the centre of Toulouse, France. It is tied to the story of Saint Sernin, the city's first bishop, who according to tradition was dragged to his death by a bull, and the church's name comes from the Occitan word for that animal.

The story behind it

Sernin (Saturnin in French) was the first Bishop of Toulouse and, around 250 AD, became its first martyr. The tradition says that pagans asked him to sacrifice a bull in honour of the Emperor at the city's temple. He refused, so they tied him to the animal and let it loose down the temple steps. The church's name, Taur, comes from the Occitan word for bull, and the church stands along the street that links the Capitole area with the basilica that bears the saint's name.

Toulouse later became one of the main stops on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, and many pilgrims walked this street on their way south. The church you see today is a Southern Gothic building in brick, the material that gives Toulouse its nickname, the Pink City.

What to look for

• The tall belfry wall rising above the street, pierced by pointed arches, is a classic feature of Toulouse's Gothic churches.
• The plain red-brick exterior shows how local builders worked with brick rather than stone.
• The portal and its threshold are worth a close look, as this is where pilgrims and locals have entered for centuries.
• Rue du Taur itself is part of the experience: look along it and you can follow the line of the old route between two of the city's key sites.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 15 to 30 minutes for the church, longer if you want to sit quietly inside. Check current opening hours before you go, as they can vary.
• Visit in the morning or late afternoon, when the light warms the brick and the street is less busy.
• It is a working church, so dress modestly and keep your voice low if you go in.
• The Basilica of Saint-Sernin is a short walk away along the same street, so the two pair well, and the Place du Capitole is close in the other direction.

See it on a quest

The Toulouse Old Town: Treasure Quest passes Notre-Dame du Taur on foot as one stop of a longer route through the old town. The app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you, so you look at the brick, the belfry and the street instead of just walking past. One ticket covers the whole group, and you can start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join.