The Notre Dame sea bream (also sometimes referred to as St. Mary of the Sea Bream) is located along the banks of the Garonne, Toulouse, near the square and the eponymous port.
It takes its name singular golden mosaics that adorned the apse of a high early church in the sixth century and that served as chapel to the Visigoth kings.
Later the site became the seat of a Benedictine abbey.
The church was completely rebuilt from 1764 and the site went through several phases. Work funds date back to 1884 with the addition of the colonnade and the pediment.
Elevated to basilica, the building follows a Latin cross whose choir is profound. Imposing square pillars adorned with Corinthian pilasters type allow a rather dramatic rise. A domed vault is visible at the crossing. A semi-dome is also positioned at the chorus.
The basilica is protected as historical monuments in particular because it contains archaeological remains (inherited from the first places of worship) and for the whole of its architecture (including the colonnade of the nineteenth and the façade trompe-l ' eye giving street sea bream).
The other specificity of the building is to house a statue of the Blessed Virgin, black, originally dedicated to mothers prayers. It is regularly covered gowns signed Christian Lacroix, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac and other top designers.
After two years of restoration work, the church reopened its doors in December 2019. Information on +33 5 61 21 38 22.
