The long weekend of May 1 is perfect for nature escapes to follow the sheep transhumance in northern Toulouse, as well as free museums on Sunday and numerous activities, including puppet shows and experimental music.
Transhumance of the sheep On Sunday, May 3, starting from 6 a.m., 330 sheep will depart from Villeneuve-lès-Bouloc for a 17 km transhumance route that will pass through seven communes in northern Toulouse: Villeneuve-lès-Bouloc, Gargas, Labastide-Saint-Sernin, Montberon, Saint-Loup-Cammas, Saint-Geniès-Bellevue, and Launaguet. The arrival of this 9th edition of the Grand Transhumance will be at Château de Launaguet around 11 a.m., where the herd will remain in shared pasture until the end of May.
An appetizing village will be set up in front of the castle with on-site dining, the opportunity to buy local products, and a picnic area. Various activities are planned, including wool spinning demonstrations, musical entertainment with a folk group, wooden games, and a “Draw me a sheep” activity. These Tarascon sheep will continue their transhumance from June to Bourg-d’Oueil in the Haute-Garonne Pyrenees, where they will descend in September for lambing.
Exhibition “From Picasso to Warhol” From this Friday, the Espace Lauragais in Saint-Orens-de-Gameville is hosting the exhibition “From Picasso to Warhol, the masters of the 20th century”. The collection includes 150 original works, representing five major movements (cubism, surrealism, abstraction, new realism, and pop art), with a pedagogical approach to observe and understand Picasso, Warhol, Dalí, Kandinsky, Vasarely, César, Niki de Saint Phalle, and others.
Prints, lithographs, serigraphs, sculptures, posters, and archives are from private collections of the Friends of 349 Gallery association in Beauzelle. Alongside the exhibition, several contemporary painters, sculptors, and engravers will showcase their creations on dedicated stands.
Business hours for the Espace Lauragais are from May 1 to 10 (10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, with extended hours on Friday until 8 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Admission is €8, free for under 18s.
The new adventures of Guignol Guignol and his notable gendarme are back at the Jardin des Plantes in Toulouse, presenting entertaining and modern conflictual adventures with a personalized welcome by Mickey and an appearance by Chase from Paw Patrol during intermission.
The interactive show, both modern and traditional, allows children to participate in the story. Photos are provided for those wishing to take a picture with the mascots, and article holders receive a €1 discount at the entrance.
Performances run until Sunday, May 10, daily at 4 p.m. with an additional Sunday session at 11 a.m. at the Jardin des Plantes in Toulouse. Duration is 50 minutes, and the ticket price is €9 for ages 1 and up.
Free museums and monuments As on every first Sunday of the month, public museums and monuments in Toulouse are free for all visitors. This is an opportunity to explore the heritage and architecture of Toulouse museums through their permanent exhibitions. Temporary exhibitions will still require payment.
The museums and monuments available for free public visitation include: the Cloister of the Jacobins, the Abattoirs Museum, the Augustins Museum, the Saint-Raymond Museum, the Museum of Natural History, the Quai des Savoirs, the Paul-Dupuy Museum, the Château d’Eau Gallery, and the Saint-Joseph de la Grave Chapel. The Georges Labit Museum remains closed for renovation.
In music at the Halle de la Machine On Sunday, the percussion, violin, trombone, and trumpet classes from the Maurice-Ravel Regional Conservatory in Bayonne will take over the Halle de la Machine in Toulouse.
The musicians will present a program based on an experimental device crafted by themselves, featuring luminous percussion, atomic violins, funk and rock pieces, contemporary percussive works, and more.
The musical performances will take place on Sunday, May 3, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Halle de la Machine in Toulouse. Admission includes performances and is accessible with a ticket to the Halle de la Machine.
