Réalmont. Réatext: a page of history in the city

Several downtown stores say no to contemporary windows and proudly display their belonging to the past. The important thing is inside and what you see there doesn’t deny it. There we find objects faithful to French tradition and quality “even if it is more and more difficult because unfortunately! many of the supplier manufacturers stop for economic reasons”, confides Béatrice, the manager of the Réaltex boutique, who wants to stay faithful to tradition.

In his store, pretty, creative wooden toys sit alongside household linen, cozy clothes for children, fabrics, resin chickens and roosters for collectors and even wonderful music boxes with a drawer designed to keep little ones treasures, etc. In short, a whole melting pot to discover. And good to know, the store is also a dry cleaning depot.

Béatrice gives pride of place to diversity but originally this store was the place of sale for a fabric factory, whose weaving factory was located a street below. This is why this store, where we negotiated canvas by the meter for sheets and curtains, is called Réaltex. It was a premises established in the first half of the 20th century and which lasted until the 1960s. Moreover, the shop keeps the imprint of the past with its ceiling hung with toile de Jouy, Béatrice likes to talk about it and reveals : “I live in the apartment above where the walls are also covered with fabric, it’s very comfortable.”

This corner building has survived the centuries, its pretty studded wooden door testifies: “It was the birthplace of Jean de Coras (16th century), a follower of Calvin who was professor of law at the University of Toulouse, advisor to Parliament and chancellor to the Queen of Navarre,” says a sign on the exterior wall. This corner of “Charming Réalmont” is also a page of history.