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Nestled in the heart of the southwest, the magnificent Toulouse takes its name from the "Pink City" of coloured brick that adorns many of its homes and buildings. A charming destination renowned for its quality of life, Toulouse is a city of Art and History full of superb monuments, admirably blending history and modernity.

Capital of the Occitanie region between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean, Toulouse is a colourful destination. It is pink for its bricks, blue for its pastel, and violet for its emblematic flowers. A marvellous combination of a local way of life and an important historical heritage, it is an essential destination for anyone staying in south-west France. During this stay, forget your car and prefer walks, public transport or cycling, to enjoy the beautiful weather and the sweetness of life so characteristic of Toulouse. Start your visit with the discovery of one of the most emblematic places in the city : the Place du Capitole. Situated in the heart of the historic centre, this huge, totally pedestrian square is one of the highlights of your visit. Look down to admire the floor of the square on which is a huge golden Occitan cross, symbol of Toulouse. This square is surrounded by beautiful historical monuments with pink brick facades, including the famous Capitoline, a superb building with neoclassical architecture built in 1190. If it was the seat of the town council since the Middle Ages, it now houses the town hall as well as the Capitol theatre. You can visit it to admire the numerous works that it shelters, without forgetting to make a turn on the side of the room of Illustrators, known for its frescos and its paintings retracing the history of the city. The Donjon du Capitole (housing the Tourist Office) is also worth a look, especially for its sumptuous vaulted ceiling. Another of Toulouse's major monuments is located just a ten-minute walk away : its Basilique Saint-Sernin. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this high place of pilgrimage located on the road to Santiago de Compostela is the largest Romanesque building in France. Built between the 11th and 13th centuries, this magnificent basilica can be seen both from the outside and from the inside : once inside the building, you can see its nave and its 11 bays, its crypts, its chapels as well as the sarcophagus of Saint-Sernin. A few metres further on towards the Garonne, the Couvent des Jacobins is one of the unmissable of your trip to Toulouse. Built in 1229, it is one of its major buildings, having largely contributed to obtaining its nickname of "Pink City". As you enter the convent, there are many sites you can visit : the Jacobins church, the cloister, the medieval refectory, the chapel of the Virgin Mary, that of St Antonine and the relics of St Thomas Aquinas. Take the time to stroll there for moments of calm, in a magnificent setting made of vaults and green gardens. Continue your wanderings to the rhythm of the many mansions of the old Toulouse in the direction of the Garonne for a refreshing walk on its quays. It is from the Place Saint-Pierre and its quays that you will certainly have the most beautiful view of Toulouse, with the famous Pont Saint Pierre and the dome of the Grave hospital as a backdrop : if the picture is worth a look by day, we guarantee that at nightfall, you will discover one of the most beautiful postcards of Toulouse. Take the Lucien Lombard quay to join the Pont Neuf, the oldest bridge in the pink city, and cross the Garonne to land in the Saint-Cyprien district. Although it is not the most famous of Toulouse's districts, it is nevertheless full of sites to discover, such as the Saint-Joseph de la Grave Hospital, the Saint-Cyprien square and its pink residences, the Abattoirs (Toulouse Museum of Contemporary Art), the ramparts, the Viguerie port and the Filtres meadow, perfect place for a green break with a view on the Pont Neuf. If you are fond of art, then the Musée des Augustins is not to be missed : also called "Musée des Beaux-Arts", it takes place in the former monastery of the Augustins, classified as a Historic Monument. Toulouse also has a very beautiful Natural History Museum, as well as a really superb Plant Garden, a real green lung of the city. With its playground, its little train, its bicycles for hire and its horse-drawn carriages, it is adored by the families who come to picnic at the edge of its lake. Via footbridges, you will be able to reach from this garden the Royal Garden as well as that of the Grand Rond, decorated with numerous plant species and a music stand. Two other visits are to be made with your family during your stay in Toulouse. First of all, the City of Space : famous for its playful exhibitions, it will allow you a total immersion in space and the universe of the space conquest. On the agenda ? Climb aboard the Soyuz and the Mir station, admire the Ariane rocket and contemplate the stars from the Dome of the Astronomer... Something to delight young and old alike. And if it is a visit to advise the amateurs of sport and especially rugby, it is that of the mythical Stade Toulousain. Real local pride, the stadium hosts many games throughout the year, check the program, it may be that an important game takes place during your vacation !

If Paris has the Seine, Toulouse has its Canal du Midi. Tourist site very appreciated as much by Toulousains as by visitors, it is one of the incontournables of your visit. Built by Paul Riquet and Vauban, the Canal du Midi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the perfect place for a walk, bike or rollerblade ride along its green route along its course to Carcassonne. If you have the sailor's foot, why not opt for a motor boat trip or a barge cruise ? An original way to enjoy the setting of the region at the slow pace of the Canal, bordered by its most beautiful cities.

Finally, if there is one thing that makes everyone in Toulouse agree, it is its gastronomy. On the menu ? Violet syrup, hams, foie gras, cassoulet, Toulouse sausage, Toulouse chicken, Fenetra, Pavé du Capitole, apple croustade, not forgetting the famous Cachous !

More information about the region :

Sud Ouest

Canal du Midi

Activities and Events

The Italian-style terraces make this place an ideal place to enjoy a break in the heart of the city.

From the Place du Capitole to the Basilica of St-Sernin, this bookstore street offers a beautiful stroll in the centre.

From the Pont Neuf to the Pont des Catalans, via the Pont St Pierre, enjoy a stroll along the Garonne.