Château history, church art and protected nature give Merville several distinct highlights for a stay.
Château and Labyrinth
The Château et Labyrinthe de Merville was built in 1734 by the Marquis de Chalvet Rochemonteix, the royal seneschal of Louis XV. The boxwood garden, which is listed as protected, covers five hectares. Within it lies a six-kilometre-long labyrinth, described as the longest in Europe. The figures refer to different measurements: the five hectares describe the area of the garden, while the six kilometres refer to the length of the labyrinth. The grounds as a garden and the maze as a distinct feature are thus both highlights. The historical details about the builder and his role also place the château in the time of Louis XV.
Church Art and Historical Remembrance
The Eglise Saint-Saturnin is dedicated to Saint Saturnin, a martyr and the first bishop of Toulouse. Inside, trompe-l’œil paintings by the Pedoya brothers in the Neo-Empire style depict the Evangelists and Apostles. The furnishings also include a liturgical treasure: a 17th-century processional cross, a censer and an 18th-century altar cross, as well as sacred vessels from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. The painted works and liturgical objects offer different insights into the church’s religious art.
The Chapelle Saint-Dominique also brings together different periods. The owner of the property, who said he had received graces from Saint Dominic, had the chapel built in 1973. An inscription recalls that Dominic frequently visited the Premonstratensian canons of Notre-Dame de la Capelle in the 13th century. The chapel’s construction date and the older remembrance recorded in the inscription thus stand side by side. Mass is celebrated in the chapel every year on 8 August. If you would like to include this date in your travel plans, check the details before your trip.
The Pigeonnier de Beillard is another historical highlight. This octagonal dovecote dates from the 17th century and is protected as a Historic Monument. Guided tours are available on request from the Hauts Tolosans Tourist Office.
Protected Nature and Green Space
The Ramier de Bigorre lies in a bend in the Garonne. This protected area, covering around 33 hectares, is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna. An educational trail with explanatory signs introduces visitors to the local ecosystem. The nature area can therefore be understood both through its connection to the Garonne and through the information along the trail.
To reach the Ramier de Bigorre, follow the D2 and then take the road that branches off to the right towards Ferme de Bigorre. There is a sign at the roadside. From there, the road continues for around 1.5 kilometres to the visitor car park.
Parc du Bois de Bayler is a three-hectare green space in the centre of town. It invites you to take a walk, pause for a while and enjoy nature. Compared with the Ramier, which covers around 33 hectares, it offers a different scale: a green space in the town centre rather than a protected natural area in a bend in the Garonne. The reasons for choosing each place also differ: a break or a walk in the town centre on the one hand, and an educational trail and local flora and fauna on the other.
Discover more destinations: Cathervielle, Pibrac, Gensac-Sur-Garonne, Calmont, Francarville, Caubous, Boulogne-Sur-Gesse, Saint-Pé-Delbosc
For the broader travel guide: Haute-Garonne.
