Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Toulouse (Toulouse Cathedral), Toulouse (must see)

The Cathedral of Saint Stephen, commonly known as the Toulouse Cathedral, is a prominent Roman Catholic church and a national monument, tracing its origins back to the 3rd century. Established by Saint Saturnin, it was later rebuilt by Bishop Saint Exuperius into a Romanesque structure in 1078.

During the early 13th century, the cathedral underwent substantial modifications in the Raymondine Gothic style.

The building suffered a significant fire in 1609, leading to a fundraising effort for its restoration. The French Revolution brought further destruction when the site was sacked and transformed into a "Temple of Reason." Inside, the cathedral was severely destroyed and used as a warehouse for scrap iron. By 1802, Napoleon had made up with the Pope, and the cathedral was returned to the Catholic Church, upon which the City of Toulouse made repairs.

A major restoration in 1911 harmonized the old and new parts of the cathedral, further beautified by a surrounding public garden.

The structure is notable for its irregular facade, resulting from the merger of two incomplete churches from different periods, and its use of brick due to regional stone shortages. The oversized buttresses were formed for a choir much higher than the one that was eventually built. There is also a 16th-century bell tower joined with a donjon of fortress-like proportions. Post-Revolution, all religious bells were melted down. A new set – of 13 bells – was made later on. The largest of them, Etienne-Florian, was cast in 1876 and weighs 3.9 tons.

The cathedral's interior is a source of confusion, featuring contrasting Gothic styles: a large nave originally built in 1078, and a choir from 1272, which are architecturally misaligned. A massive pillar stands between the two sections.

Despite the chaos of its history, however, the cathedral is an island of peace with richly decorated chapels, significant stained glass, and finely carved choir stalls.

Also, the cathedral boasts two organs: the main tribune organ built in 1612, and a smaller choir one from 1868.