Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Abattoirs, Museum - Frac Occitanie Toulouse, are installed in the former municipal slaughterhouses of Toulouse, designed by the urban architect Vitry between 1825 and 1831. This complex, built on the left bank of the Garonne River, met a need for rationalisation and hygiene for the slaughter of animals. The original project, inspired by the Basilica of Saint-Sernin, is distinguished by its neoclassical monumentality, its brick arches and its geometric symmetry. The work was completed in 1832, although later developments, such as a protective wall in 1838 or dykes in the 1950s, marked its evolution. The activity ceased in 1988 for health and structural reasons, before an inscription to historical monuments in 1990.

The transformation of slaughterhouses into a modern and contemporary art museum was decided in 1991 by a joint union of the city of Toulouse, the Midi-Pyrénées region and the state. This project was part of a process of rehabilitating heritage places, such as in Bordeaux or Barcelona, and aimed to boost the Saint-Cyprien neighbourhood. In 1995, three entities merged: the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Toulouse (created in 1984), the FRAC Midi-Pyrénées (1984) and the CRAC de Labège (1985). The architectural contest, won by Antoine Stinco and Rémi Papillault, favoured a restoration faithful to the original spirit of Urbain Vitry, with discreet contemporary interventions.

The museum opened in 2000, retaining the name Les Abattoirs to symbolize the union of the three founding structures. His exhibition space, organized around a central nave and collateral, incorporates major works such as a stage curtain by Pablo Picasso, alternately presented in a theatre museum. The collections, from the depots of the Musée des Augustins, the FRAC, and private donations (such as those of Daniel Cordier or Rodolphe Stadler), cover modern and contemporary art, with an emphasis on post-war European movements. The building, opened on the Garonne via the Raymond-VI garden, today embodies a dialogue between industrial heritage and artistic creation.

The history of the slaughterhouses reflects the urban and health developments of Toulouse: first a utilitarian place marked by extensions and crises (like the abandonment of the reconstruction project in 1913), it became a symbol of cultural conversion. The museum was managed successively by Alain Moussigne (1995–2012), Olivier Michelon (2012–2016), Annabelle Ténèze (2016–2024), then Lauriane Gricourt from 2024. This place, both conservatory and laboratory, illustrates the vitality of contemporary art in Occitanie, while preserving the architectural memory of the city.

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