Discover Martres-Tolosane through a variety of interests: the Musée de la Faïence in the historic center, art and events at the Grand Presbytère, as well as the Via Garona, a cycling route and Lac de Saint-Vidian. When planning your trip, it helps to decide what you want to focus on first: cultural events give you a specific date to plan around, while the hiking and cycling routes or the lake bring other activities to the forefront.
Faience, Art and Event Dates
The Musée de la Faïence de Martres-Tolosane is located in the historic center. The museum is housed in a 380 m² building made up of three renovated former houses. Its location and the building’s distinctive layout connect a visit to the museum with a close look at the historic heart of the town.
Another destination for art lovers is the Grand Presbytère. It has been open since May 23, 2015, and its large exhibition spaces are intended for events throughout the year. The venue promotes craftsmanship and contemporary art. It complements the faience museum with a different cultural focus, so the two venues do not cover the same subject.
The Salon des Arts et du Feu takes place every year over the All Saints’ Day weekend; the exact dates vary from year to year. It brings professional exhibitors and art lovers together for meetings, discussion, exhibitions and sales. If the salon is an important reason for your trip, check the event dates for the year in question before making plans. This lets you plan your stay around the actual dates rather than assuming they fall on the weekend around All Saints’ Day.
Hiking and Cycling on Different Routes
The Via Garona, long-distance hiking trail GR®861, passes through Martres-Tolosane. The route comprises seven stages between Toulouse and Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges. For a hiking trip, the stages provide a broader framework in which to include Martres-Tolosane. The town is therefore part of a long-distance trail, not simply a general starting point for any number of walks.
Garonne à vélo is a 106 km cycling route that includes Martres-Tolosane and runs along roads or shared-use paths. The routes’ different details can help you choose between them: the Via Garona is described as a long-distance hiking trail with seven stages, while Garonne à vélo is a cycling route with a stated total distance and several types of paths. Hikers can use the stages to plan their trip; for a cycling tour, the distance and type of route are the key points of reference. The two routes therefore offer different ways to include Martres-Tolosane in a trip.
Lac de Saint-Vidian and Its Fitness Trail
Lac de Saint-Vidian covers about 1.5 hectares. Fish species in the lake include rainbow trout, barbel, gudgeon, chub and roach. Its specific size and variety of fish give the lake its own appeal for anyone looking to spend time by a body of water during their stay.
The Parcours de santé de Saint-Vidian, a fitness and health trail in Martres-Tolosane, is also located at Lac de Saint-Vidian. The lake and trail offer two different ways to enjoy the same named location: the body of water as a landscape feature and the trail as an opportunity to get active. Check the trail’s current condition before your visit.
Martres-Tolosane offers several clearly distinct themes to help you decide what to focus on during your trip: faience and exhibitions, an annual art salon, hiking on the Via Garona, cycling on Garonne à vélo or a visit to Lac de Saint-Vidian. The salon takes place on a specific weekend; for the other themes, the named places and routes can help you choose what to focus on.
Discover more destinations: Bouloc, Aurignac, Saint-Thomas, Boutx, Estancarbon, Salles-Et-Pratviel, Sajas, Montoussin.
For an overview of the wider region: Haute-Garonne.
