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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The convent of the Visitation of Toulouse came from the progressive acquisition, in the nineteenth century, of three 17th century private hotels by the nuns of the Order of the Visitation. These buildings, located on rue de la Dalbade, include a house bought in 1822, the former hotel of President Le Masuyer (acquised in 1817) with its four wings around an inner courtyard, and the former hotel of Béarn, called the Temple, owned by the knights of Malta, bought in 1861. These acquisitions allowed the establishment of a functional convent in a prestigious architectural setting, mixing aristocratic heritage and religious life.

The ensemble, classified as Historic Monument, is distinguished by its facades and roofs on street, courtyard and garden, as well as by its chapel located in n°13 and a small living room on the floor of n°5. These elements protected by decree of 8 December 1981 testify to the heritage importance of the site. Owned by an association, the convent ceased its religious activities in 1981 to give way to a senior residence, Les Jardins d'Arcadie, thus marking a transition between spiritual heritage and contemporary use.

The location of the convent, at 1, 5, 13 and 15 rue de la Dalbade in Toulouse (Haute-Garonne), makes it a key element of the city's urban heritage. Its architecture, combining 17th-century hotels and 19th-century amenities, reflects the historical and social evolutions of Toulouse, between the Ancient Regime and the modern era. The accuracy of its location, assessed as satisfactory a priori, makes it possible to appreciate its integration into the historical fabric of the Occitan city.

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