“Demoiselles” the name dances on the tongue. Here at the Rond-Point des Demoiselles let’s explore its story.
This isn’t Paris. We are actually standing in Toulouse. The Allée des Demoiselles is a road in Toulouse in the Occitanie region. Occitanie is in the South of France.
The Allée des Demoiselles crosses the Busca district. This is in sector 5 Southeast of Toulouse. The road has one car lane in each direction. It is a zone 30 area. The speed limit is 30 km/h. There are no bicycle facilities.
But why “Demoiselles”? The origin of the name Allée des Demoiselles is not entirely clear. The name “demoiselles” appeared in the late 18th century. It seems to first apply to the Pont de Montaudran. This bridge crosses the Canal du Midi. It became the Pont des Demoiselles.
Popular tradition says these “demoiselles” were prostitutes. They met the canal workers there. A document in the Canal du Midi archives calls it the Pont de las Putas. This means “bridge of the prostitutes” in Occitan.
In the late Middle Ages it was just a path. It was the path of Montaudran. It led to the village of Montaudran. This village was around its church. It sat on the Calvinet mound slope. This name also applied to roads north and south of it. In 1806 it was named Allée du Chantier-des-Barques. It ran alongside the radoub basin. Finally in 1824 the road took the name of the bridge it led to.
In 1820 large ditches were made along the Allée. They brought water from the Canal du Midi. This was near the Pont des Demoiselles. The water fed the canal around the mound. This mound was developed in the heart of the Jardin des Plantes.
In 1934 the Allée des Demoiselles was chosen for a trial. They were testing new stone sidewalks. The contractor Gordin brought granite from Dorre.
The Allée des Demoiselles is served by the Linéo L9 bus line. Bus line 44 stops at Allée Frédéric-Mistral and Avenue François-Frizac. Bus line 27 stops on Avenue Antoine-de-Saint-Exupéry beyond the Pont des Demoiselles.
Several VéloToulouse stations are nearby. Station number 98 is at 80 Allée des Demoiselles. Station number 115 is at 8 Allée des Demoiselles. Station number 127 is at 1 Rue Bégué-David.
Along the Allée des Demoiselles several interesting buildings can be found.
At number 2 is the Maison Valette. Architect Jean Valette built the house in 1938. He used it as his residence and office. It is at the corner of Avenue Frizac. It faces the southern entrance of the Jardin des Plantes. The semi-buried basement has rusticated stone. Small windows are closed by wrought iron grilles. The upper levels are brick.
At number 4 is a house set back from the Allée des Demoiselles. The courtyard is closed by an iron gate. Its design is inspired by the Cours Dillon gate. Joseph Bosc made that gate in 1784. It was moved in 1961 to the entrance of the Grand-Rond.
At numbers 36-38 is the Résidence Les Pins. Architect André Boudes built it between 1964 and 1965. It consists of two building sections around a central area.
At number 51 is a building constructed in 1956. Architect Robert-Louis Valle designed it. It is a thirteen-story modern building. It reveals the concrete structure.
At number 68 is an Art Deco building. Architect Jean Valette built it in 1931. It is set back from the street.
The Rond-Point des Demoiselles and the Allée des Demoiselles offer a glimpse into Toulouse’s history. From its intriguing name to its architectural details this area is worth exploring. I hope you enjoyed our little detour.