Saint-Béat

Saint-Béat (French pronunciation: [sɛ̃ bea]; Gascon: Sent Biat) is a former commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.

[2] Saint-Béat is renowned for its marble quarries, which have been in operation since Roman times.

Although quarrying activity is now reduced, various marbles were or are still extracted from the municipality: Every year, a sculpture and marble festival takes place in July in Saint-Béat.

It welcomes sculptors, including some internationally renowned artists, who have three weeks to create a piece using blocks of local marble.

The festival also offers workshops for those interested in learning the art of sculpture.

Saint-Béat by Eugène de Malbos , near 1840.