Collège de Foix in Toulouse, Gothic college building in Toulouse, France
Collège de Foix is a brick structure with turrets and a vaulted cellar organized around a central courtyard with galleries on three floors. The building retains its Gothic arches and Renaissance-era windows throughout its layout and design.
Cardinal Pierre de Foix founded this institution in 1457 to house around 25 students studying law and theology at the University of Toulouse. The complex later became recognized as Europe's oldest operating student residence with this sustained purpose.
The brick facades and pointed arches in the galleries reflect the Gothic tradition of the building's design. The mullioned windows and vaulted spaces show how Renaissance craftsmanship shaped the structure's character over time.
The building is currently used by the Congregation of the Sisters of Notre-Dame de la Compassion and is not open for regular public tours inside. You can view the exterior and courtyard facade from the street to observe its architectural features from outside.
The building received historical monument status in 1925 and stands as one of the oldest continuously functioning student residences on the continent. Its long span shows how a 15th-century concept sustained its original purpose across centuries.
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