Toulouse-Matabiau, Train station in Toulouse, France
Toulouse-Matabiau is the main train station in Toulouse, a city in southwestern France, located in the city center with a direct connection to the metro network. The limestone building has several platforms and two large entrance halls joined by walkways and underground passages beneath the tracks.
The station was built between 1903 and 1905 by architect Marius Toudoire, who also designed the Bordeaux station, and it replaced an earlier, smaller building on the site. Over the course of the 20th century, the complex was expanded several times to keep pace with growing rail traffic.
The name Matabiau comes from an old neighborhood nearby and is tied to the legend of the martyr Saint Saturnin, with the name meaning 'kill the bull' in old local speech. The front of the building displays 26 coats of arms representing the destinations once served by the rail lines, giving the facade a distinctive historical character.
The station sits in central Toulouse and is easy to reach on foot from many neighborhoods, with metro line A stopping directly beneath it. Access to the platforms runs through underground passages, and the building is set up for travelers with reduced mobility, with clear signs throughout the complex.
The limestone used to build the station came from the Roman city of Saintes, giving the facade an unexpected origin story. What is also worth noting is that architect Marius Toudoire designed both this station and the one in Bordeaux to nearly the same plan, so the two buildings look very similar to this day.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
