Toulouse is a dynamic metropolis in southwestern France and capital of the Haute-Garonne department. Throughout Toulouse’s Old Town, majestic heritage terracotta buildings give the city its dusky-pink hue and charming nickname. Wander along rambling alleys and broad boulevards, admiring glowing façades. Enter the wider cityscape, where students, scientists and engineers endeavor to uphold the city’s reputation for technological innovation.
Explore Toulouse’s distinctive Vieux Quartier enclosed by the banks of the Garonne River and the Canal du Midi to admire the city’s heritage shopfronts, churches and historic Occitan flair. Investigate the Saint Sernin Basilica to appreciate its ornate architecture and understand its significance as a stop on the Arles pilgrimage trail. Toulouse Cathedral and the Jacobins Convent are also remarkable religious structures. Tour the Capitole de Toulouse complex to visit the historic opera house, the magnificent Hôtel de Ville and a 16th-century keep. View these buildings from the spacious Place du Capitole.
Toulouse features one of France’s largest and oldest universities and many important headquarters in the European aerospace industry. Learn about Toulouse’s achievements in aeronautical innovation when you explore the Cité de l’espace (City of Space) theme park or the Aeroscopia aviation museum. The ultra-modern Médiathèque José Cabanis houses the city’s fascinating library.
Enjoy fresh air in the sprawling Jardin des Plantes where there are themed gardens and a restaurant. Stroll along the riverbank or take a boat cruise for views of Toulouse’s cityscape, as well as Pont Neuf and Pont Saint Pierre. Journey through five centuries of European art wandering the galleries of the Hôtel d’Assézat. As evening falls, head to one of Toulouse’s atmospheric bars to get a taste of the local music scene.
Access Toulouse easily via its local airport and intercity railway. Use Toulouse’s comprehensive public transit network or explore the city by bike. Visit rose-tinted Toulouse to experience contemporary dynamism in a picturesque setting.
