Our Blog - Muret, France

Muret is listed as an outer suburb of Toulouse although it does not belong to the actual Toulouse Metropole (the town declined to join due to local political feuds). Similar to Rieux, its' citizens have their own name, Muretains. Muret is generally known for the Battle of Muret in 1213 and as the birthplace of Clément Ader (1841-1925), inventor and aviation pioneer. It is also the birthplace of the Niel family from which Adolphe Niel, Marshal of France and Minister of War, comes from. Like many places, it dates back to antiquity. In the case of Muret ... to as early as the Neolithic period. A hut foundation dating from 4000 BC has been unearthed to the north of the town and different objects in the Chalcolithic, around 3,000 to 2,500 BC; then the Bronze Age from 1,700 BC indicate the permanence of the population here. A series of Gallo-Roman brick kilns dating back to the 1st century AD is located along the right bank of the Garonne.

In the middle of the Place of Peace is yet another monument to the dead, which was created in 1921 to commemorate the end of WWI in 1918. Around the base were added other wars/conflicts, including 1 person from the town who died in Afghanistan. The statue on top is that of a woman (a 'Lausanne', or someone from the local countryside) representing France. She holds an olive branch (the sign of peace) in her hand.

Probably the biggest sign in the city is Saint James Church. The roman style church was built between 1159 and 1165 but has gone through many renovations and changes. The clock tower is a slight contrast, in Gothic Languedoc style, added in the 14th century.

The organ was added in between 1840 and 1850 although it also has been restored and transformed a couple of times in the 1880's.

It is a semi-traditional church in nature, as it is Eastward oriented although there isn't a true transept. The marble altar dates to 1896 when a Toulouse marble mason was commissioned to create it. The painting was done by Roques and shows Christ on a cross. Around the altar are various statues: St. Peter with keys, St. Paul with a sword, St. Matthew with an angel, Mark with a lion, Luke with the bull, and John with a chalice.

There are a few additional chapels around the sides. This first one is St. Germiers chapel, which was built in 1872 and dedicated to the Archbishop of Toulouse, St. Germier. The stained glass window was done in 1875 by Gesta.

This is a unique little chapel, as it is in a vaulted chapel with bevelled arches and keystones that date to the 16th century. It is the Chapel of the Rosary, formerly called the Chapel of the Last Agony. The former name comes from the gold-painted wood Pieta from the 15th century in a recess on one side. The stained glass window, which is unique in that it isn't religious in nature, was done by Guerin in 1960.

Saint Joseph's Chapel, built in 1890 with another stained glass window by Gesta.

This unique little chapel is La Salette's Chapel, built in 1879. The story depicted here is that in 1846, on a meadow at La Salette, a beautiful woman appeared before 2 children who lives nearby. While crying, she addressed the children in French and in patois (a non-standard, minority language) as well. The radiance on her face came from the crucifix on her chest.

This is the Maison d'Oraison Dieu, which is one of the oldest houses in Muret, which was built in the Middle Ages. The half-timbered facade is from the 15th century.

The plaque on this house says it is where Clement Ader was born in 1841. If you are like me, you've never heard of Clement Ader :-). He was born in Muret and died in Toulouse, and is primarily known for his pioneering work in aviation. He also improved on other inventions, like improving the telephone invented by Bell. There is a good wikipedia page which details his inventions.

These are the city walls of Muret. Muret itself was founded in the end of the 7th century (after all of the other settlements) where the Louge and the Garonne rivers met. For defense, the city walls were built, which are still seen today. The first wall was built in the 8th century and it was enlarged to preserve the city from the arrival of the Toulousains (those from Toulouse).

This is not something you see every day, although we actually see it more often than we should. It says that Paul Viguerie was killed here on July 15th, 1944, a victim of "the Nazi barbary".

This fountain is at the start of the Allee's Niel, which was the principal route at the start of the 18th century. It gets it name from Marechal Niel, who was from Nuret and became the Minister of War under Napoleon III. The status is also that of Marechal Niel.