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The private mansion of" Dumay " in Toulouse.

Writer's picture: Franck BRUGUIEREFranck BRUGUIERE


This private mansion " Dumay" was built in 1585 by ' Antoine Dumay ", a doctor.

Today, it is the Museum of " Old Toulouse " .

It is located a few meters from the " Roman Cardo Maximus " .

It represents the most important north-south axis of a Roman city.


  • Introduction :


The physician , named Dumay " , was a Capitoul and a counselor of the Parlement.

In 1575, married the widow " Jeanne de Cayle " , which brought him many properties, including a house that would be incorporated into the private mansion.


This family later passed on this magnificent Renaissance-style mansion to an association, " Les toulousain de Toulouse " , for it to house their museum.

At the opening, there will be several exhibition rooms featuring works by Toulouse artists and ceramic.


In 1950, it was listed as a historic Monument if France for its facades and roofs, and in 1992 for its interior.

The interior decorations date back to the 18th. century.


  • The architecture of the building :



The strikingly simple facade built with typical Toulouse-style baked clay bricks, conceals a magnificent Renaissance-style courtyard.

The facade, featuring on a oriental style, dates back to the 16th. century.


But let's pause for a moment to admire the courtyard of this magnificent mansion.

Unlike many private mansion in Toulouse, this one is not attributed to the golden age of pastel, but rather to wealth of the Toulouse family " Dumay " .


The courtyard of the mansion has a trapezoid shape.

When you are in the courtyard, it feels like a noise as if time had stopped.


The entrance porche, on the other hand, is imposing.

It composed of two splendid archways.

Below, we can see a flag depicting rugby on the banks of the Garonne River.

Rugby country obliges !!! .



The eldest son of the "Dumay " family built the Renaissance-style gallery where the family's coast of arms can be found .

This gallery is magnificent, consisting on a first floor of a balcony and on the ground floor of a beautiful old well.

She has nothing to envy from her Italian cousins .

The south and west elevations are animated by a gallery whose arches rest on Doric columns.



In this Renaissance-style mansion, as is often the case, there is a splendid chapter tower with a staircase .

On the tower, one notice a grimacing head and numerous other facade adorning it.



The splendid decoration of this mansion is expressed throughout the use of polychrome marble.

At that time, the use of marble was primarily to display wealth and opulence.


Some windows in the courtyard are adorned with acanthus leaves and roses, similar to those found on the south wing of an atlante and a caryatid.



In 18th. century, this private mansion underwent some renovations.

Specifically, the windows on the first floor and the wing were modified.

The interior layout was also altered, and the decor was updated with the addition of plaster work.


  • The Museum :


The museum like you're trying to say : The museum of old Toulouse " is the association that began to built its collections in 1907.

The objects ans documents on display trace the history of Toulouse from Antiquity to the 20th. century.


Presence of paintings, sculptures, costumes, ceramics and furniture.

You will be able to observe the collections on the first floor in eight exhibition rooms.

Each one presents a particular theme.


This will allow you to group the history of the city, its urbanization, architecture, vanished monuments, institutions, academies, artistic and cultural life, as well as its popular traditions.


Here you go, my friends, that's all for today.

I hope you will enjoy discovering this magnificent Renaissance-style mansion in Toulouse.

Happy reading !!! .


BONUS PHOTOS :



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The blog from Toulouse.

Greetings Franck.


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