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Origin and history

The Saint-Raymond Museum, formerly the Antique Museum, is an archaeological museum in Toulouse opened in 1892. It occupies the walls of Saint-Raymond University College, built in the 16th century near Saint-Sernin Basilica. This college, founded in the 11th century as a hospital for the poor and pilgrims of Santiago de Compostela, became a university college in the 13th century. After the Revolution, the building was bought by the city in 1836 and transformed into a museum in 1892, with archaeological collections ranging from protohistory to the early Middle Ages.

Originally, the site housed a fourth century Christian necropolis, linked to the tomb of Saturnin, the first bishop of Toulouse. The college was rebuilt after a fire in the 13th century and restored by Viollet-le-Duc in 1868-1871. The museum, specialized in archaeology since 1961, was completely renovated between 1994 and 1999, revealing remains of the Paleo-Christian necropolis and a lime oven of the Ve-VIth centuries.

The collections come from local excavations, such as those of the Roman villa in Chiragan, and donations from collectors (Bibent, Clarac, Barry). The museum exhibits sculptures, ceramics, coins and funeral objects, illustrating the history of Toulouse and the Roman Narbonnaise. It has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1975 and labeled Museum of France.

The current building, built in 1523 by the mason Louis Privat, is one of the few preserved examples of Toulouse's medieval university architecture. After serving as a presbytery, it was adapted as a museum by architect Arthur Romestin. Successive redevelopments, including those of the 1990s, have helped to highlight collections and archaeological remains in situ.

The permanent exhibitions revolve around three themes: Tolosa's Romanization, the sculptures of Chiragan's villa, and the Paleo-Christian necropolis. The museum also manages archaeological sites and organizes temporary exhibitions, while maintaining a medallist of over 11,000 antique coins.

The Saint-Raymond Museum is a major testimony of Toulouse's history, combining architectural heritage and exceptional archaeological collections. Its museum path, conceived as a logical circuit, allows to discover the evolution of the city and its region, from antiquity to the early Middle Ages.

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