A beautiful example of Southern Gothic architecture, the Couvent des Jacobins was founded as a Dominican monastery in the 13th century. The convent, built between 1260 and 1292, was constructed entirely from the red bricks of Toulouse and has a similar tower as the Basilique Saint-Sernin.
The massive and austere exterior contrasts with the delicate interior architecture. Inside the convent's church, the two-aisled nave features inspiring vaulting, with the famous palm-frond shaped ribs radiating from seven central piers in the choir. There is a chapel dedicated to Saint Antonin, which is decorated with a series of 14th-century mural paintings.
The church also possesses relics of Saint Thomas Aquinas. The most tranquil area of the convent is the cloister, an inspiring space of arched colonnades created in 1307. Throughout the year, the convent presents exhibitions in the refectory.
For several evenings in June, the convent hosts classical music concerts as well as special late-night openings, when the convent stays open to the public until midnight so that visitors can experience the magical and solemn nighttime spiritual ambience. In September, a classical piano festival takes place at the convent, with concerts held in the cloister as well as in other spaces of the monastery property.
