Palais de Justice de Toulouse

The Palais de Justice de Toulouse spreads across two plazas and links building sections from different eras, dating from 1492 to recent times. The complex houses several judicial institutions and displays a mix of architectural styles accumulated over many centuries.

Toulouse received its first provincial parliament as a court in 1443, covering a huge region from the Rhone to the Atlantic. This court established the city as a major center of justice in France.

Inside you find ornate rooms such as the Salon Doré and a 15th-century chapel showing how regional design and religious spaces were combined here. These spaces reveal how important this building became to the city and its residents over the centuries.

The building is generally open to visitors, though you should check current hours in advance since it remains an active courthouse. Comfortable shoes are recommended, and you should allow time to explore the various rooms and connected areas.

Excavations beneath the building uncovered traces of a Roman gate and ancient road from when the Romans occupied the area. These archaeological finds are preserved in an underground crypt, revealing the city's earliest urban history.