Industrial · Churches

Église du Gésu

Toulouse

Église du Gésu is an ancient Catholic religious building located at 22 bis rue des Fleurs in Toulouse. Initiated by the Jesuits, it takes its name from the Society of Jesus and recalls the first Jesuit church built in Rome, the church of Gesù. The Jesuits returned to Toulouse in 1830 and later purchased a mansion, the former seneschalship, in 1853 to establish a novitiate and its church.

The building was constructed between 1854 and 1861 by architect Henri Bach in neo-Gothic style. Its decoration was completed by Auguste Bach, who painted the wax decoration between 1859 and 1869, with themes centered on the cult of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and prominent Jesuit figures. The stained glass windows were made by Louis-Victor Gesta in 1866, with cartoons by Bernard Bénézet, and funded by several wealthy Toulouse families. The grand organ, built by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll in 1864, remains a notable feature. Opened for worship in 1861 and consecrated in 1869, the church was desacralized in 2000 and converted into an organ concert hall. Including its stained glass and painted decor, it is listed as a historical monument.

Map showing the location of Église du Gésu in Toulouse
Location of Église du Gésu in Toulouse

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History and Architectural Status

The Eglise du Gesu is an ancient Catholic religious building located at 22 bis rue des Fleurs in Toulouse. Built in neo-Gothic style by the Jesuits, it is considered one of the major religious buildings of the city. In 2000, it was desacralized and later converted into an organ concert hall. Its stained glass and painted decor are listed as part of its historical monument protection, reflecting the building's architectural and artistic value.

Construction and Decoration

The Eglise du Gesu takes its name from the Jesuits, the Society of Jesus, which initiated its construction. The name also links the church to the first Jesuit church built in Rome, the church of Gesu. The Society of Jesus returned to Toulouse in 1830 during the Restoration, and in 1853 the Jesuits purchased a mansion, the former seneschalship, to create a novitiate and its church.

The church was built between 1854 and 1861 by architect Henri Bach in the neo-Gothic style. Its decoration was developed over several years. Auguste Bach painted the wax decoration between 1859 and 1869, with themes centered on the cult of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and prominent Jesuit figures. The stained glass windows were made by Louis-Victor Gesta in 1866, based on cartoons by Bernard Benezet, and were funded by wealthy Toulouse families including the Solages, Sambucy, and Eugene de Malbos.

The furnishings also reflect the care given to the interior. The grand organ was built by Aristide Cavaille-Coll in 1864 and placed in a neo-Gothic case containing an organ of twenty-four stops with two manuals and a pedalboard. The oak main altar was made by cabinetmaker Kreyenbielh following plans by sculptor Arthur Martin.

History of Public Access and Jesuit Ownership

The Eglise du Gesu was opened for worship in 1861 and consecrated in 1869. It was closed to the public in 1880, after the exclusion of religious congregations from teaching, but the Jesuits retained ownership of the building. The church was reopened to the public in 1920. In 1929, the Jesuits opened the Saint-Stanislas college next to the church. Between 1970 and 2000, the number and activities of Jesuits at the site decreased, although the church remained open during this period. It was later closed when the Jesuits left rue des Fleurs and sold the novitiate to the diocese and the church to Toulouse city hall.

Renovation and New Musical Use

In 2000, the city hall of Toulouse acquired Historique and renovated it to make the building a place dedicated to the organ. After damage from the AZF factory explosion, the roof waterproofing and nineteen paired stained glass windows were restored. The first floor was converted into rooms for musical associations and a concert hall for organs, while the ground floor was renovated with a fully glazed reception area and a rehearsal room. A garage on place des Hauts-Murats adjacent to the building was demolished to free it, and the parvis was refurbished. The new dedication was inaugurated by a concert attended by the archbishop of Toulouse, mayor Jean-Luc Moudenc, and deputy Jean Diebold in late . The building is no longer used for worship, although it occasionally hosts eucharistic celebrations for Saint-Stanislas college students. It now primarily hosts concerts and serves as a rehearsal space for several musical ensembles.

Architecture and Design of the Church

The church was constructed in bricks on a stone base and designed with a single nave of seven bays bordered by square plan chapels. Its structure rises on three levels, with chapels, galleries, and high windows. The building measures 61 meters in length, with a nave 16 meters wide, or 22 meters including the side chapels, and reaches 22 meters in height to the keystones. Its exterior was given a plain style, while the interior was richly decorated in polychrome and styled in southern neo-Gothic. During construction, the design led to disagreements with the Toulouse city architect over the building height. The church tower was designed to rise to 57 meters.