The unusual Saint-Etienne Cathedral

This is Toulouse's most unusual cathedral! Its appearance, which has been constantly altered since the 13th century, gives it an offbeat, unfinished look. This unconventional look is the result of a combination of two building styles: a southern Gothic nave ending in a northern Gothic choir, which gives the impression of being incomplete!

Saint-Etienne's Cathedral was built on the foundations of a chapel built by Saint Saturnin in the 3rd century and rebuilt by Saint Exupère one hundred and fifty years later. The church has undergone so many alterations, renovations and rebuilds that it is nicknamed the "unfinished cathedral".

So, what happened? In the 13th century, after Toulouse became part of the French crown, it was decided to build an enormous Gothic choir. The idea was to build a new cathedral worthy of the most important in Europe by destroying the old one as the work progressed. But, without going into too much detail, in the end there wasn't enough money to finish the construction, and the choir was somehow attached to the nave.

Subsequently, in the 19th and 20th centuries, several projects were launched by ambitious architects anxious to give the cathedral back the look it should have had, but they all had to be abandoned.

According to visitors, this cathedral is "disconcerting", "surprising", "unusual" and "enigmatic". Few monuments have as many different elements in terms of date and style as Toulouse cathedral. And in the end, that's where its charm lies, as its asymmetry and originality surprise us and tell us a whole part of its history.

During your visit, you can admire the chapels decorated with altarpieces, paintings and reliquaries that form a series of small museums. You might also spot a pretty rose window on the west wall, directly inspired by the one in Notre-Dame-De-Paris.

To find out everything you need to know about the cathedral, guided tours are available. And a little extra for children: during the European Heritage Days, a discovery trail for youngsters is available.

As everywhere else in Toulouse, the Cathédrale Saint-Étienne is surrounded by numerous small restaurants where you can grab a bite to eat. Here are two places we particularly recommend for a good meal and a good time, before or after your visit.

First of all, La Gourmandine on the cathedral side is a pretty little urban bistro whose menu features locally-grown, organic or sustainable produce. The restaurant's cuisine is gourmet and generous, inspired by the South-West, and very reasonably priced. A really good address!

Another option for a real culinary voyage is Nomades! This gastro street-food restaurant offers world cuisine using fresh, local and seasonal produce. You'll discover original and original flavours in a friendly atmosphere!