Musée des Augustins

The Musée des Augustins is the Fine Arts Museum of Toulouse, set in a fourteenth-century Augustinian convent on the rue de Metz, a few minutes' walk from the Place du Capitole. The monks left the building in the revolutionary period, and it became a museum shortly afterward, which makes it one of the older museums in France. The place has real atmosphere: a brick Gothic church, a peaceful cloister, vaulted rooms and a garden full of carved stone fragments.

The cloister is one of the best features. Its arcades surround a planted garden where Romanesque and Gothic sculpture from Toulouse's lost monuments is displayed, including capitals and carved figures salvaged from demolished churches and cloisters. Gargoyles and sculpted heads look out from the walls. The setting gives context to the objects, since the medieval collection is shown in an authentic medieval space rather than a modern gallery, and the stone and light change character through the day.

The painting collection runs from the Middle Ages to the early twentieth century. Visitors will find works by Le Pérugin, Rubens, Delacroix, Ingres and others, together with a good selection by artists connected with Toulouse and the south-west of France, including large nineteenth-century academic canvases and scenes of history. Sculpture includes pieces by Rodin. The galleries are arranged by period, so a visit can follow the history of European art in sequence or be limited to a favourite century.

The museum has several amenities that make a visit comfortable. The Tourism Pass and other discounts may apply, and audio guides are available, and a boutique, library and cafe occupy part of the complex, while activities for children help younger visitors engage with the collection. Admission is modest, with reduced rates for some groups. Opening days vary through the week, and the site closes on a few holidays, so it is wise to check the schedule. Some areas can be affected by restoration work, which changes from year to year, but the main collections remain a rewarding visit.

Getting there is easy by metro: Metro Lines A and B serve the area, with stops at Esquirol and Carmes a short walk away. Combined with the Capitole, the Hôtel d'Assézat with its renaissance courtyard, and the Musée des Jacobins, the Augustins fits into a cultural walk through the old quarter, and the quiet cloister is a good place to pause from the city's bustle.