The St Etienne or Pink Cathedral is one of Toulouse's best-known landmarks, its patchwork grandeur reflecting a history filled with numerous modifications, restorations and reconstructions. So many, in fact, that it is now called the "unfinished cathedral".
Some historians believe the cathedral was built on the foundations of a 3rd-century church. Its more recent history can be traced to 1071, when Bishop Izarn decided to rebuild the ruined building. The plans were repeatedly altered up until the 13th century.
The uniqueness of the present cathedral is that it presents two very distinct styles: Roman (the raymondine nave) and Gothic (the choir). The two churches were connected during the 16th century by Jean D'Orleans, as the culmination of a gigantic project began in 1272, under the aegis of bishop Bertrand-de-l'Isle.