Stage town for the third time
Sub-prefecture of Haute-Garonne (31)
Population: 25,300 (Murétains, Murétaines), and 90,000 in the Muret urban community
Specialities: foie gras, duck confit and breast, cassoulet, Toulouse sausage, pavé de Muret (chocolate)
Personalities: Clément Ader (aviator), Vincent Auriol (President of the Republic), Adolphe Niel (Marshal of the Empire), Nicolas Dalatrac (composer), Bernard Maris (economist, victim of the Charlie Hebdo attack), Christian Jeanpierre (sports journalist).
Sport: AS Muret Cyclisme. Event: Cycling Grand Prix
Economy: Aeronautics, Groupe Etienne Lacroix (pyrotechnics), Laboratoires Pierre Fabre, Éditions Hubert (gastronomy).
Festivals: Afriqu'à Muret (June) / International Film Festival / Muret Latino Festival / Festival Vert Demain
Label: "Ville à Vélo du Tour de France" 1 bike / ville fleurie** / Natura 2000 network
Websites / FB / G+: www.tourisme.agglo-muretain.fr / www.mairie-muret.fr / https://www.facebook.com/pages/Office-de-Tourisme-de-Muret/141969799192604?v=wall / https://plus.google.com/+cauterets/posts
MURET AND CYCLING
The Tour returns to Muret for the third time in ten years, each time for a start. The Tour’s last visit served as a launch pad for a stage won in Saint-Lary-Soulan by Tadej Pogacar, who consolidated his Yellow Jersey there. It was the Slovenian rider's second stage win of the year after the time trial in Laval, and he repeated the feat the following day in Luz-Ardiden.
In 2015, the 13th stage of the Tour de France set off from Muret towards Rodez, where Greg Van Avermaet finally opened his account of victories in the event. He did it again the following year at Le Lioran, before wearing the Yellow Jersey for three days, then eight in 2018.
A number of riders from Muret have taken part in the Grande Boucle throughout its history. Jean "Henri" Gauban even rode in the first edition in 1903 and persisted on four further occasions, without ever finishing the race. In 1906, he was disqualified for taking the train between Nancy and Dijon with a few friends. This cycling pioneer died in 1958. Other Muret citizens by adoption, the Van Schendel brothers, did even better than appear in the race. Dutch by birth and living near Toulouse, where their parents ran a farm, Antoon and Albert both took part in four Tours de France in the late 1930s. Antoon even won two stages in 1938 in Narbonne and the following year in Annecy. He was the second Dutchman after Theo Middelkamp to win a stage in the Tour de France. His brother Albert finished 15th in the race on two occasions. Both died in 1990 in Muret.
SIGHTS
Clement Ader and Great Men Museum
Opening date: 2011.
Characteristics: the museum, housed in the former property of Vincent Auriol, traces the history of the town (with an archaeology room and a room devoted to the battle of Muret in 1213) and pays tribute to the great men who have marked the history of Muret: Clément Ader, Vincent Auriol, Marshal Niel and Nicolas Dalayrac.
Clément Ader Park
Created: 1925-1930.
History and characteristics: built on the initiative of Vincent Auriol, then Mayor of Muret in 1925, the park is a tribute to Clément Ader, the Muret aviation pioneer and inventor of the first flying machine, the Eole. It is a testament to aviation, whether national or international, as the commemorative steles that adorn the park attest. The Envolée d'Icare (Icarus Flight) dominates the Clément Ader park. The park also features other sculptures: The peace stele, Crossing the Atlantic and Crossing the Mediterranean... These aerosteles were built in honour of Louis Blériot, who crossed the English Channel, Roland Garros, who flew over the Mediterranean, and Nungesser, Coli and Lindbergh, who attempted, with or without success, to cross the Atlantic Ocean.
Listed as: Historical Monument in 1999.
Saint-Jacques Church
Construction: 12th to 16th centuries.
Style: Romanesque and Languedoc Gothic.
St Jacques church was originally built in the Romanesque style. Its bell tower is in the Languedoc Gothic style (14th century). It contains a wealth of treasures, including paintings (by Despax and Gamelin), works of art and a crypt containing other marvels of Mure's heritage. Inside, you'll find the Romanesque chapel of the Rosary, which commemorates the Battle of Muret in 1213.
Special feature: its organ is listed as a Historical Monument. Numerous pieces of listed furniture.
Listed as: Historical Monument in 1928 (bell tower).
Ruins of the old bridge
This bridge, built in 1203 and "free of leudy and tolls", helped to promote trade. This bridge facilitated the invasion of Muret by Simon de Montfort twice in the 13th century.
TO EAT
Violets and violettines
Known as Toulouse violets, violet sweets are purplish-coloured sweets made from fresh violet flowers crystallised in sugar. Some are eaten as snacks, while others are used to decorate desserts (cakes, ice creams). After harvesting (from October to March), the violet flowers are stemmed and soaked in syrup, sprinkled with sugar and dried, steamed (at around 60°C for 24 hours) to dehydrate them. Some of the dehydrated flowers are then re-soaked in a coloured and flavoured sugar syrup, heated to over 100°C. Once drained and cooled, the violets are finally dried.
A chocolatier in Muret offers "violettines", chocolates inspired by the famous violets from the neighbouring town.
