The Jacobins Convent

A jewel of Southern Gothic architecture

The former convent of the Dominican friars is a typical example of 13th-century Southern Gothic architecture.

While the exterior architecture is imposing and austere, in keeping with the community’s vows of poverty, the interior of the church is luminous, with colourful walls and stained glass windows, and a vaulted choir in the shape of a palm tree, twenty-eight metres high.

Under the altar are the relics of Saint Thomas Aquinas, a member of the Dominican Order.

The cloister garden, refectory and chapter house are secluded and perfect for a quiet stroll, but the remarkable feature that really will surprise visitors is the unique palm-shaped vault.

The cloister of the convent, an oasis of tranquillity in the city centre, regularly hosts concerts and exhibitions.