Find out what the Labours of Hercules are, see the sarcophagi in the basement and inspect ancient tools in this former prison and necropolis.
The Saint Raymond Museum contains a comprehensive collection of archeological artifacts and antiques from the region surrounding Toulouse. It has a large focus on Roman relics from the Chiragan excavation site in the town of Martre-Tolosane. Get an insight into the history of the area via the fascinating objects on display.
Consider the rich history of the building that houses the museum. It has been a hospital for the poor, a prison, a student residence and a barracks. The site previously served as a necropolis and a medieval university college. Take photos of the elegant rectangular building, with its redbrick façade.
Enter the museum and make your way through its exhibits, which cover the regional past from protohistory (between prehistory and the period of writing) to the Middle Ages. Admire the bracelets, weapons and tools surviving from the Bronze Age and the Iron Age. Inspect the preserved Mediterranean artifacts from the Cypriot, Etruscan, Italian and Greek civilizations.
Among the highlights of the museum is the impressive collection of relics from the Roman Empire. Examine the surviving vases, oil lamps and mosaics that shed light on this intriguing era. Study the Roman busts of emperors and civilians that were discovered in the well-known Chiragan site and the nearby town of Béziers. Marvel at the sculptures that make up the Labors of Hercules display.
Look through the Greek, Byzantine and Roman coin collections and consider their fascinating monetary systems. Go into the basement to see the remnants of the Christian necropolis. Check out the temporary displays that pass through here.
The Saint Raymond Museum is just north of the town center of Toulouse. Get the metro to the Jeanne d’Arc stop and walk west for a few minutes to find the museum. There is an entry fee to the museum, which is open daily from morning until early evening.
Visit some of the nearby highlights, including the Basilique Saint-Sernin, Le Rex de Toulouse and the Carlos Gardel Monument.
