Terre Cabade Cemetery, Toulouse

Terre-Cabade Cemetery in Toulouse stands as the largest cemetery in the region, sprawling across a 33-hectare area on the Jolimont hillside. It is strategically bordered by Avenue de la Colonne, Boulevard des Crêtes, and Avenue de la Gloire, with its primary western entrance aligned with Avenue du Cimetière.

The cemetery, with its historical and architectural significance, comprises three main sections: the Terre-Cabade Cemetery (Old Cemetery), established in 1840 by architect Urbain Vitry; the Salonika Cemetery (New Cemetery), founded in 1915 to honor French involvement in World War I; and the Hérédia Cemetery, added in the latter half of the 20th century to extend the Salonika cemetery.

Terre-Cabade Cemetery houses approximately 28,000 tombs and 20,000 vaults. It is a final resting place for numerous local political and artistic dignitaries, reflecting its status as a key historical and cultural site in Toulouse. The cemetery also hosts several memorials dedicated to the victims of the 19th and 20th-century wars.

The name "Terre Cabade" likely originates from the Occitan term terra cavada meaning "excavated earth," hinting at the site's pre-cemetery use for brickmaking, where clay was extensively extracted by local brickmakers.

Notable architectural features include the neo-Egyptian style monumental entrance, conceived by Urbain Vitry and inaugurated in 1840. The entrance includes distinctive elements such as two brick obelisks topped with golden pyramids, and adjacent pavilions adorned with papyriform columns. This entrance was recognized as a historic monument in 2019.

Over its history, the cemetery has been a focal point for various expansions and renovations, reflecting both the growth of Toulouse and the evolving needs of its community. The Terre-Cabade Cemetery not only serves as a place of remembrance but also as a significant architectural and historical landmark in Toulouse.