Walking the Land: Gothic Churches & the Black Madonna-Toulouse, France

Hi Everyone,

I’m in London at Heathrow airport right now, so have good Wi-Fi at Sofitel Hotel next to Terminal 5 and I can put just a FEW of the pictures I took in Toulouse, France of the enchanting and heart touching gothic churches.

I want to thank Sadhbh, my hostess who lived in Toulouse, for driving me around and showing me these incredible works of architecture and spirituality. She truly lives in a place where history is still alive and can reach out and touch us. She took me to three churches that were fairly near one another and walking distance.

One was a Jacobean church and I have no other name for it than that. The church Sadhbh was married in was Notre Dame du Taur. And my personal favorite because of the healing Black Madonna inside it, is Eglise de la Daurade. I hope you enjoy my discovery among these gothic beauties.

And here is my friend Sadhbh who lived in Toulouse, going into the church Eglise de la Daurade. Would any of you think this was a church???? I sure didn’t.

This is the home of a true Black Madonna. This is Eglise de la Daurade in Toulouse. From the outside it does not look like a church. Indeed, the entrance doesn’t look like a church either, which is why so many people bypass this incredible gothic church and the very moving Black Madonna housed inside it.

Here is a ‘true’ Black Madonna at Eglise de la Daurade in Toulouse. To sit before her is to feel wave after gentle wave of love emanating from her. All I could do was sit and allow my tears to fall for twenty minutes. Truly a beautiful experience.

Eglise de la Daurade is a hidden gothic church in Toulouse and what a shame! Its outer appearance is as just ‘another’ building in this lovely French city. But inside, there is such a feast for the eyes and heart that I run out of words to describe it.

This is Notre Dame du Taur, Toulouse and Sadhbh was telling me that the priest doesn’t like this called a black Madonna. Apparently her wooden skin was darkened over time by candles. But, when is a black Madonna NOT a black Madonna?

And what makes one a legitimate one? And what does not? Interesting the priest does not want this called a Black Madonna. Hmmmmmm.

This is a beautiful stained glass window from the gothic church Notre dame du Taur in Toulouse. Sadhbh was married in this church.

I hope this inspires those of you who love Gothic architecture, to come to Toulouse, France and walk the beautiful floors of these churches yourselves.

There are soooooo many gothic churches in France that it would take a month to see some, but certainly not all of them. One of them on my list to see next time I come to France is Chartres. Enjoy.

In Spirit, Eileen