This bar’s reputation speaks for itself. With its open-air café vibe, Les Pêcheurs de Sable is a must-visit spot on the Quai de la Daurade. On sunny days, its terrace fills up with regulars and visitors who come to enjoy a drink with friends along the banks of the Garonne. But behind this summery atmosphere lies a much darker story: did you know that this building once housed the bodies of people who had drowned in the river? WithHalloween just around the corner, Toulouse Secret takes you on a journey to discover one of the most unusual stories of the “Pink City.”
The Garonne and the Sand Fishermen
This bar has two secrets, and the first takes us back to the history of the river. In the past, when the waters of the Garonne were low, the sand fishermen would come into play. Using their scoops—a kind of sieve for collecting sand—they harvested the precious grains used, in particular, to make mortar and cement. Once their cargo was loaded onto their flat-bottomed boats, they would travel along the riverbanks to transport the fruits of their labor.
Les Pêcheurs de Sable owes its name to this now-defunct trade. It’s an activity deeply intertwined with life along the Garonne and the history of Toulouse—seemingly a world away from the festive atmosphere of this open-air café. But that’s not the only secret hidden at this spot on the Quai de la Daurade… And the second one is far less cheerful.
One story can hide another
As you may know, the bar “Les Pêcheurs de Sable” enjoys a prime location on the Quai de la Daurade, overlooking the Garonne. It’s an idyllic setting for sipping a drink at sunset, but it has also been the scene of numerous accidents over the centuries. After all, where there’s a river, there are sometimes drownings… And in the past, a place was needed to store the bodies recovered from the water.
The building that now houses this open-air café once served as a morgue for people who had drowned in the Garonne. In the early 20th century, bodies were laid to rest there while waiting for their loved ones to come and identify them. A far less festive purpose than the venue’s current one, which adds a whole new dimension to this spot beloved by the people of Toulouse.
An underground stream with a macabre past
But the most surprising part is yet to come. According to several historical accounts reported by the local press, a small underground stream, connected to the Daurade spring, was apparently used near the bodies. The relatively cool water helped limit odors and some effects of decomposition at a time when preservation methods were rudimentary. It wasn’t a modern preservation system, but rather an empirical method to make the wait a little less trying for the families.
And the story doesn’t end there: this water is said to have continued flowing through the area, where it is now used to water the vegetation. It’s a surprising continuity between the past and the present, even if the exact course of the waterway and the details of its historical use have yet to be confirmed by independent archival sources.
So, the next time you’re enjoying the terrace at Les Pêcheurs de Sable with friends along the banks of the Garonne, you might find yourself thinking back on this little-known story. Behind the garlands and clinking glasses lies a far more macabre past…
📍 Quai de la Daurade – 31000 Toulouse
