The must-see sights of Castelsarrasin

The crazy dream of connecting the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea by canal dates back to the dawn of time and became a reality in 1856. Castelsarrasin has a basin, which came into service in 1846. Unfortunately, within a few decades, competition from the railway ruined the canal's economic potential for more than a century. The development of river tourism in the 1980s and 1990s breathed new life into the canal, forcing the public authorities to invest in the rehabilitation and enhancement of the waterways. These efforts culminated in the Canal du Midi being listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, with all the benefits that this brought in terms of image. Castelsarrasin, aware of the economic and tourist potential of this section of the canal, followed suit and built a marina in 1998, complete with a harbour master's office.

The Eiffel Footbridge, an elegant metal structure built by Maison Eiffel in 1888–1889, has been facilitating crossings at the station for over a century. Its history, marked by ten years of development and several project changes, illustrates the administrative and technical challenges of the time. The project emerged on 29 December 1878 (plan by Justin Langlade). A treaty was signed on 13 February 1881 with the canal administration. In 1882, the Municipal Council opted for a pedestrian footbridge (Rengade project). It was abandoned in 1884 in favour of the project by architect Besse. Despite plans being submitted in 1886, ministerial authorisations and a period of inactivity on the canal delayed the work until 1888. On 21 August 1888, an agreement was signed between the municipality and Maison Eiffel in accordance with Besse's plans, for a budget of 10,000 francs. The delivery date was set for October 1888. Following the modernisation of the Jacques-Yves Cousteau marina, the municipality carried out renovation work on the footbridge that crosses the canal at the station, to improve the appearance and safety of the structure.

The house takes its name from one of its owners: Jean-François Ignace d'Espagne (1690-1742). Doctor and lawyer, Councillor at the Toulouse Parliament, he was Mayor of Castelsarrasin when he acquired this property in 1739.He erects a magnificent, square, overhanging corner turret, on conical trunks under the corner, twinned on piers. It is surmounted by a four-sided dome, crowned with a lantern and supporting a gable. Above the portal, a stone shield bearing the coat of arms of the Spanish family was enshrined. In 1956, the tower, in very poor condition, was demolished for safety reasons. It was rebuilt in the 2000s. The name "Maison d'Espagne" can be confusing... especially as, for decades, this residence was also known as the "Italian House", due to the style of its architecture. This building houses the museum dedicated to Firmin Bouisset, creator of the famous Petit Lu advertising posters and the little girl from the Meunier chocolate adverts.

LU’s Little Schoolboy and Menier’s Little Chocolate Girl are icons created by Firmin Bouisset, a pioneer of modern advertising. Come and meet in Castelsarrasin these characters and many others that are part of our collective imagery.Firmin Bouisset, a pioneer of modern advertising, father of the Petit LU and the Little Chocolate Girl Menier will finally have his Space! A stone's throw from Moissac, his birthplace, the Espace Firmîn Bouisset will welcome you from 2021 in Castelsarrasin, near the Canal des Deux Mers.In a small, completely restored pink brick mansion, you will enter the playful and familiar world of this painter-poster artist who, in the heart of the Belle Epoque, revolutionized the art of advertising and inscribed his characters in our collective imagery.The petite Menier, the Petit écolier de LU, the Pierrot du chocolat Poulain and so many other icons await you at the "Espace Firmin Bouisset".

Discover a remarkable church built mostly of brick, typical of the architecture of south-western France, which houses the relics of Saint Alpinien, patron saint of the town of Castelsarrasin.Mentioned in documents as early as 961, the church was rebuilt in 1254. It then became the priory of Moissac Abbey until 1626, giving it a major role in the Bas-Montauban diocese. The building features elegant early Southern Gothic architecture. Its silhouette is dominated by a hexagonal bell-tower, an emblematic feature of the monument. Between 1864 and 1872, the bell tower, belfry and last bay were rebuilt identically by the architect Olivier, and in 1905, a monumental stone staircase was added to the ensemble. Inside, the church boasts an exceptional artistic heritage: - superb stained glass windows created between 1860 and 1880 by Joseph Villiet, Louis Gesta and Henri Fleur, - mosaics created in 1876 by Spinedi, - and a remarkable collection of Baroque woodwork from the 17th and 18th centuries, mostly from the former Belleperche Abbey. Today, Saint-Sauveur church is one of the jewels in Castelsarrasin's religious and historical heritage.

Intended for the education of young girls.In 1843, the Sisters of Notre-Dame de la Compassion moved to Castelsarrasin to set up a boarding school for young girls, at the request of the town council. The convent and its buildings, erected between 1844 and 1860, reached their peak in the 1880s, welcoming around a hundred young ladies. The law of 1904 led to the closure of the establishment and the partial sale of the buildings in 1905, most of which were demolished in 1907, with only the chapel remaining. Despite these hardships, the sisters continued their social work with the underprivileged until their departure in 2006. Today it is a private school.

The Micheau tower is one of the few remaining vestiges of the medieval fortifications that made Castelsarrasin a city renowned for its impregnability.Built between 1303 and 1346, the city walls comprised 2 km of ramparts, a wide moat, 4 large fortified gates (followed by a fifth in 1586), 8 towers and a castle with a keep and five towers. Mentioned as early as 1162, the castle was demolished in 1626, and the fortifications ceased to be used in the 1620s. Little maintained, then voluntarily dismantled, the ramparts gradually disappeared, leaving only a few vestiges today, including the Micheau tower.

Saint-Jean church bears witness to more than eight centuries of history and the major role played by the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, and later the Order of Malta, in the development of Castelsarrasin.Saint-Jean Church, first mentioned in 1216, was founded by the Order of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem (later Knights of Malta). It was rebuilt in the XVIᵉ century, as attested by the 1560 double shield visible on its façade, bearing the name of Pierre de Beaulac Trébonds, Grand Prior of Toulouse. From the XIIᵉ century onwards, the Hospitallers played a major role in Castelsarrasin's development: they reclaimed the land, encouraged the town's growth and, in the early XIIIᵉ century, established a major commandery comprising church, priory, hospital, cemetery and gardens. The town was then divided between two parishes: Saint-Jean and Saint-Sauveur. In 1530, the order officially became the Order of Malta, as can be seen in the elements of the bell tower and the choir window. In 1924, the interior of the church was decorated with murals by painter René Gaillard-Lala, depicting biblical scenes and key figures from the Order and local history.

Founded by the Carmelite monks in 1281, the Castelsarrasin convent complex was largely destroyed after the French Revolution, leaving only the medieval bell tower and portal.The Reverend Carmelite Fathers settled in Castelsarrasin in 1281 and built a convent, church and cemetery. Having become national property during the French Revolution, the commune acquired the convent on May 29, 1791. Because of its central location, the commune planned to establish its town hall there. The church, cloister, dormitories and refectory were then sold to the département to house the prisons, gendarmerie and court. The only remains are the bell tower (14th century) and a portal (late 13th century), the entrance to today's Espace Paul Descazeaux.

After the fire of 1793, Castelsarrasin Town Hall was rebuilt between 1824 and 1827, then completed with a clock and two statues in the XIXᵉ century.Until 1793, communal affairs were managed in a room above the market hall, known as the "Maison Commune". Ravaged by a fire of criminal origin on December 9, 1793, the question of the future Town Hall quickly arose, as the covered market, the lungs of the city, had to be rebuilt without delay. It was rebuilt in 1795, but without the raised section. Castelsarrasin was determined to play a leading role in the newly created department of Haute-Garonne, and its new town hall had to live up to its status. The perfect site was found: the convent of the Reverend Carmelite Fathers, a vast building located in the heart of the town. Declared a national asset during the French Revolution, the Commune acquired it on May 29, 1791. But the building, whose walls are almost 400 years old, is threatening to fall into disrepair and cannot be occupied without major work. So what's to be done? Renovate or demolish and rebuild? Over 30 years in the making. The new Hôtel de Ville was finally built between 1824 and 1827, to plans by Toulouse architect RIVET. In 1847, the famous Parisian clockmaker LEPAUTE installed an illuminating clock. In 1853, the clock was framed by two statues, inspired by Roman mythology and created by the Toulouse sculptor PALAT. The two statues symbolize the city's two sources of prosperity: trade and agriculture, with a winged Mercury on the left and a sickle-wielding harvester Ceres on the right.

At the age of 50, Pierre Marceillac had an Art Nouveau hotel inspired by Vienna built in Castelsarrasin. Inaugurated in 1912, the Grand Hôtel Moderne's façade and interior have been carefully preserved over five generations.At the age of 50, Pierre Adrien Marceillac decided to realize his lifelong dream of building a grand hotel in the Art Nouveau style in Castelsarrasin. Inspired by the artistic atmosphere he had discovered in Vienna in the 1870s, he entrusted this ambitious project to Montalban architect Antonin Maurou, despite the rarity of this style in the region. Inaugurated in 1912, the Grand Hôtel Moderne became a symbol of this innovative art, characterized by curved lines, forms inspired by nature and an aesthetic present in all artistic fields. Five generations of the Marceillac family have ensured the preservation of this exceptional heritage, both in terms of its façade and its interior design. Today, the Hôtel Marceillac invites visitors to relive the elegance of the early XXᵉ century.