The construction of the church and the convent, the first university of Toulouse, started in 1230 and continued during the 13C and 14C. The brick-built church is a masterpiece of southern French Gothic architecture. The grandiose edifice sports a double nave and seven columns supporting a 28m-high vault. On the last column is the famous "palm tree" made up of 22 ribs that support the apse's vault. Nowadays the spacious refectory is a venue for temporary exhibitions.