Notre-Dame de la Daurade Church, Toulouse

Notre-Dame de la Daurade is a historic basilica located in Toulouse, with a rich history that traces back to the early 5th century. Originally, the site was home to a pagan temple dedicated to Apollo, which was converted into a Christian church around 410 AD, under the authorization of Emperor Honorius. This transformation marked the beginning of the site's Christian heritage.

The name "Daurade" comes from "Deaurata," referring to the golden mosaics that adorned the church built during the 5th or 6th century. These mosaics, accompanied by inscriptions, indicate that the church initially served the Visigoths who practiced Arian Christianity. The church shifted into Catholic hands after the Visigoths were defeated at the Battle of Vouillé in 507.

By the 9th century, Notre-Dame de la Daurade had become a Benedictine monastery. However, it experienced a decline starting in the 15th century and was eventually demolished in 1761 to facilitate the construction of riverside quays in Toulouse. The site saw further transformation during the French Revolution when the monastery was closed and repurposed as a tobacco factory.

The basilica was historically significant for housing a shrine of the Black Madonna, an icon highly revered in the Christian community. The original icon was stolen in the 15th century, and its subsequent replacement was destroyed during the Revolution. Today's icon, created in 1807, is a replica of the 15th-century Madonna and has been significantly darkened by candle soot over the years, earning it the name "Notre Dame The Black" ("Notre Dame La Noire").

Reconstruction of the current basilica structure took place in the 19th century. The church, along with its notable organ, has been officially listed as a Monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture, underscoring its cultural and historical importance to the region and France's heritage.