Labège: Art, Pastels and Events

When planning a trip to Labège, you can focus on a range of different themes: contemporary art, the history of pastels, a science and literature festival, and a weekly market. The reason for your trip may determine which hotel in Labège you choose. Would you like to focus on visual art, learn about a practical approach to colour, or plan a day around a festival or market? These activities differ both in theme and in their timing.

Visual art and a variety of events

The Maison Salvan is a contemporary art centre run by the town of Labège and also an artists’ residency with a particular focus on visual art. Its programme includes exhibitions as well as public lectures, performances and concerts. This means it offers a range of formats: alongside exhibitions, there are events centred on discussions, performances or music. If you are primarily interested in visual art, this focus gives you a clear thematic connection.

Another art-related venue is the Labège location of the Artothèque Archipel at La Passerelle – Médiathèque de Labège. It features around forty works from the collection of the Artothèque Maison Salvan – Ville de Labège. The approximate number gives you an idea of the size of the collection; at the same time, the location at the Médiathèque can be considered a distinct aspect of Labège’s art offering. This allows you to distinguish between the public programme at the Maison Salvan and the Artothèque Archipel location.

The history of pastels and creating your own colours

The Musée du Pastel in Labège presents the history of pigments and pastel colours in south-western France. This includes the craft of processing the pastel plant into precious powder, a practice documented since the 17th century. The historical perspective traces the material from plant to powder. Workshops complement this with hands-on creative activities: you can work with pigments and develop your own colours. If you are interested in the history of a material, the topic brings together processing and colour; if creating is more important to you, the focus is on working with pigments and developing your own colours.

Scientilivre: science and literature

Scientilivre is an annual science and literature festival organised by Délires d’encre for children and adults. It takes place at the Centre des Congrès Diagora Labège and offers workshops, lectures and conversations with authors. The mix of events offers different ways to engage with the festival’s themes: you can explore the workshops as well as the lectures or author talks. Since Scientilivre takes place annually, you should check the dates of the relevant edition when planning a specific trip.

The Labège-Village market

The Labège-Village market takes place every Saturday morning from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the car park of the Centre commercial de l’Autan. Its time slot makes it easier to plan around than the annual festival; it is advisable to check the current schedule before visiting. Local producers, livestock farmers, craftspeople and traders come together at the market. Products include peaches, artisan charcuterie and organic vegetables. These examples show the range of products and market participants without limiting the offering to a single product category.

Weighing up themes and travel dates

A simple distinction can help with your planning: art and the history of pastels offer thematic points of interest, while a particular Scientilivre date or the market on Saturday morning may determine when you travel. This helps you decide first whether you are primarily interested in a cultural theme or would like to plan your trip around a specific event date.

Discover more destinations: Cazaunous, Aucamville, Cazères, Saint-Orens-de-Gameville, Benque, Sepx, Vacquiers, Saiguède.

For the overview of the wider region: Haute-Garonne.