The dome of the Saint-Joseph chapel at the Hôpital de la Grave is on all the postcards of Toulouse, but few inhabitants have ever entered it. After two years of work – which cost the town hall of Toulouse nearly 5 million euros – the chapel reopens its doors this weekend, for the Heritage Days.
“When we cross the doors, we discover this huge dome and a light as if coming from Heaven which illuminates the whole building, describes David Madec, the curator of the chapel. We can now see the sun reflecting on the stained glass windows and giving off a kaleidoscope of light, it’s quite striking. It illustrates well what this chapel is: a beating heart within the hospital. And then, the immense vault gives us this impression of gigantism with its 40 meters high.
– Shannon Marini
To finally see the chapel, there may be a crowd. Before the works, in 2020, 20,000 visitors came in one weekend. The mayor of Toulouse, Jean-Luc Moudenc remembers it. “We had put a notebook at the entrance and many Toulouse residents expressed the personal and family memories they have here. Myself, I have my grandmother who died here. In addition to the tourist and cultural emblem, it is also a personal heritage.”
– Shannon Marini
After Heritage Days, the chapel will remain open every weekend and every day during school holidays. The entrance costs 4 euros, 2 euros at a reduced rate. A small museum has also been set up behind the chapel, in the hospital refectory. You will discover an exhibition on the architecture of Toulouse.