The square where it feels good to come and eat at any time of day : La place Saint-Georges !!! .

This is a lively yet peaceful green space, where you'll find many large and beautiful terraces.

In this post, I 'm going to introduce you to Place Saint-Georges in Toulouse.

It is interesting on two levels !!! .

At first of all, it has a remarkable architectural past, rich in history.

And above all, it's the place in Toulouse where people love to come for a drink or a meal on a terrace when the weather is nice .

• A little istory :

In the entrance to the square , on the façade of a building, you'll find a map of the square and its surrounding neighborhood.

It was built in the shape of a pentagon.

Throughout its history, the square has changed names many times.

Originally, it was named " Saint-Georges " because there was a chapel dedicated to him at its center.

In 1808, the square was demolished, and during the French Revolution, it was renamed " CALAS " .

Indeed, the man who bore that name was sentenced to death following a criminal case that gained national attention.

He was executed on this very square.

It was the city council that, in 1941, restored the name " Place Saint-Georges " .

Today, one of its main assets it that it has only a single traffic lane.

In fact, the south and north sides ae completely pedestrian, making the square calm and shaded.

• The History of Place Saint-Goerges Trough the Centuries :

Middle Ages :

In the 13th.century, there was indeed a chapel named " Saint-Georges ", which was later destroyed.

Even at that time, the square was already one fo the Toulouse's major commercial hubs, as a large wine market was held around nearly its entire perimeter.

This explains why most of the houses belonged to innkeepers, tavern owners, bakers, and a few members of the bourgeoisie.

The Modrn Period :

It was a gathering place for major public events, especially popular during the Carnival season leading up to Lent.

In the 17th. century, it became the site for punishments and public executions.

A stone scaffold was built for this purpose.

In the 19th. century, the square became more popular and working-class fewer bourgeois residents.

In the 18th. century, construction work was carried out that gave the square its current shape.

Throughout that century, its commercial role grew stronger, as many different markets were held there over time.

It was during the French Revolution that the square lost all of its religious function.

• What not to miss at Place Saint-Georges :

1. The " Lafage " mansion :

   
   

This beautiful townhouse is located on the square. It's built of brick and white stone, ans features truly remarkable ornamentation.

The plans were drawn up in 1747 to make it the residence of a bourgeois named " Henri-Joseph Lafage ".

This classical architecture is characteristic of the first half of the 18th. century.

The façade facing the square is grand and impressive.

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  The façade of this remarkable mansion on the place.

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  The façade facing the square spans two levels.

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  The façade is composed of 12 bays.

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  The magnificent triangular pediment of the façade

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  The old decorative entrance door of the mansion.

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  A sculpted head of a god on the façade.

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  Sculpted heads of the gods Apollo, Neptune and Mars adorn the façade.

It features 13 bays across two stories, crowned by a triangular pediment above the ground floor.

The façade is adorned with sculpted statues representing the gods Apollo, Neptune, and mars.

1. The other buildings reflect the architectural history of Toulouse, forming a kind of patchwork :

There are many buildings on the square made of terracotta bricks, which were built by wealthy bourgeois families.

There are buildings typical of Toulouse architecture made of terracotta bricks.

These expensive-to-built buildings were reserved for bourgeois families.

Many buildings constructed with wooden overhangs typical of the Middle Ages is present on the square.

Many half-timbered-buildings, constructed using wooden framework, date back to the Middle Ages.

They were intended for the middle classes, as their construction was less expensive.

The problem was that they were often threatened by violent fires.

There is a building in the Art Deco architectural style on the square.

This building fully embodies the Art Deco style and is located on the square.

Indeed, one can notice large bay windows, balconies with wrought iron railings, and rounded shaped.

It is also built with mix of stone and brick.

1. " Jean-Calas square " :

Large playground for children is located on the square with a dragon high 12 meters.

This is where you'll a brand-new playground for children, inaugurated in 2021, featuring in 12-meterhigh dragon.

Indeed, the atmosphere of the square is very family-friendly.

1. The good restaurants and bars recommended by the Toulouse blog :

• The three establishments named " Monsieur Georges " :

The original restaurant :

The main restaurant with its beautiful terrace, located in a building typical of Toulouse.

It is the one that has been on the square since the very beginning, for many years.

You can eat all kinds of dishes there, local or not, either inside or on the beautiful shaded terrace.

The quality-price ratio is good, and the portions are generous.

The staff, for their part, are very professional.

At the left corner, you will find a quality fast-food option.

To the right of the main restaurants is " Monsieur Georges Rôtisserie " , where you can enjoy grilled meats with plenty of chicken on the menu.

Of course, you can come and have a drink at any time of the day on one of the beautiful terraces of these establishments !!! .

The rotisserie, where you can enjoy grilled meats, has a lovely and is also located in a building typical of Toulouse.

The restaurant " by Émile " :

A gourmet restaurant located on the square with a very charming small terrace.

This restaurant is simply excellent.

If you want to treat yourself, go dine at this high-quality, refined establishment with very professional staff.

On the menu, you 'll find only dishes prepared with fresh ingredients from the nearby "Carmes " covered market.

Do you want to eat the famous Cassoulet ....This place serves one of the best in Toulouse.

In summer, a small terrace is there to welcome you.

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  View of the square from inside the restaurant.

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  A fish dish made with fresh ingredients.

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  An appetizer prepared in a refined manner.

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  The famous cassoulet, typical of Toulouse;

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  a close-up of the cassoulet.

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  A carafe of water with the restaurant's inscription.

The Café/restaurant named FRIDA :

This Café was taken over recently. It has beautiful decor and is also located on this very family-friendly square.

It was taken over recently and features clean, carefully designed decor.

The staff is very friendly and attentive, and there's a beautiful terrace where you can enjoy fresh, quality cuisine at a reasonable price.

The Bar/Restaurant named " The WALLACE " :

A very good bar-restaurant located on the square, which takes on a festive atmosphere in the evening.

It 's a true Toulouse institution, visited by many generations of locals.

You can enjoy a meal or a drink on the establishment's beautiful and spacious terrace.

In the evening, the atmosphere becomes livelier....a heads-up for the dancers and partygoers !!! .

The tearoom named " Au Jardin des Thés " :

excellent tearoom on this square located in a typical Toulouse building.

This tearoom is a tearoom not to be missed.

The cakes are excellent and generously portioned.

You can enjoy them on a very beautiful terrace.

I highly recommend this establishment !!! .

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  The magnificent terrace of the tea room of the square.

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  The plates with the cakes. Enjoy your meal !!!.

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  The display of all the cakes, there are so many, and they're absolutely delicious.

That's all for today my friends .

Now you know where to go in Toulouse to have a drink or a meal in a peaceful, history-filled setting !!! .

Welcome in Toulouse.

The blog from Toulouse.

Greetings , Franck.

Adresse : Place Saint-Goerges 31 000 Toulouse.

BONUS VIDEOS :

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/d9f466_a456229a027242a4a63eaefdfd4a8ab4/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

A beautiful flower-covered façade is located on the square.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/d9f466_86753b1137554a75bbb4e8daf8c53cb8/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

A video of the amazing ans spacious terraces available to you on this square.

BONUS PHOTOS :

Magnificent aerial view of Place Saint-Georges and its neighborhood, especially with all the tiled rooftops....Splendid !!! .

Aerial views of Place Saint-Georges and the rooftops of the neighborhood the snow-sights we may no longer witness due to climate change.