Musée Saint-Raymond: Toulouse's Archaeological Window

The Musée Saint-Raymond, or Toulouse Archaeology Museum, invites visitors to explore the region's captivating past. Housed within the walls of a former 16th-century university college that neighbors the Basilica of Saint-Sernin, the museum's building has been renovated several times since its inception. The museum's collection spans from protohistory to the early Middle Ages, emphasizing Celtic, Roman, and early Christian periods. Displays include Roman sculptures, coins, vases, and jewelry, offering insights into daily life in ancient Toulouse and its surrounding regions. Highlights include impressive Roman busts and fragments of a 5th-century mosaic. The basement reveals an ancient cemetery with sarcophagi and tomb steles. Originally opened in 1892, the Musée Saint-Raymond has a rich history, predating its establishment as a museum. The site was once a Christian necropolis in the 4th century and later a hospital in the 11th century. Transformed into the Collège Saint-Raymond in the 13th century, it served as a place of learning for impoverished students until the French Revolution. The building was then repurposed for various uses, including stables and a barracks. Today, the museum manages several archaeological and historical sites including the Roman Amphitheater at Toulouse-Purpan, the Saint-Pierre des Cuisines Church, and the Basilica of Saint-Sernin.