Visiting France has always been high on our travel planning list. We enjoy the French lifestyle. A life where you work to live rather than live to work. Enjoying a glass of wine at lunch, savoring every meal, and enjoying every day's worth feels just right to us.
When the opportunity arose to visit Toulouse, we were excited to be in a new city in France. No matter how much we prepare, research, and plan, we always end up like a child whose eyes widen when they first arrive at a new destination. Toulouse, France was no exception. The short drive from the airport to downtown took us to this beautiful town along the Garonne River. We knew we had arrived somewhere special.
Toulouse Pink City
Toulouse is the fourth largest city in France with a population of 950,000. The city has its own unique pink terracotta bricks that illustrate its description as “The Pink City” or La Ville Rose.
The square where the Parliament House is located is surrounded by interesting buildings and cafes where you can enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. What's unique is that the city hall also operates as an opera house.
Impressive large tables cover many of the walls throughout City Hall. Each depicts a historical event in the city's history.
The famous pink stones are not the only fascinating aspect of the architecture of this beautiful place. Roman and medieval history comes alive as you stroll the city streets.
Toulouse is a pedestrian's delight. Despite having a great public transportation system, we had a great time wandering up and down the streets, looking for treasures along the way.
tourist pass
The city offers tourist passes starting from 15 euros and include free entry to museums in the city center, guided tours from the Toulouse tourist office and free use of local transport: metro, tram, bus and airport shuttle. . We also offer discounts on many of Toulouse's other attractions, shops and activities. You can purchase 24-hour, 48-hour, or 72-hour cards. Find out more here. Toulouse-Visit.com.
When leaving Capitole Square, I recommend heading up Rue du Taur. You can easily walk along this shopping street to Couvent des Jacobins. Founded by Dominicans, this peaceful monastery and gardens encourage contemplation and tranquility. Perhaps most importantly, this is the final resting place of St. Thomas Aquinas and his relics are kept here.
Toulouse is also home to the Basilica Saint-Sernin, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the largest Romanesque building remaining in Europe. It is also a place along the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. The Way of St. James was one of the most important Christian pilgrimage sites during the Middle Ages.
In Toulouse you will find many pastel products made from Isatis Tinctoria, a unique locally grown plant that gives it a beautiful blue pigment. Factories in the area exported pastel products throughout Europe. The industry suffered as competition from Indian “Chinese pastels” grew. As the beauty and health care properties of pastels become more popular, the business is experiencing a revival. We love the scent of lavender and have brought home many pastel gifts for friends and family.
Toulouse European Aerospace Capital
You might be surprised to learn that Toulouse is Europe's leading city for aviation and space. Airbus headquarters is in Toulouse. Intel and CNES's Toulouse Space Center, Europe's largest space centre, are also among the city's top companies.
The highly respected University of Toulouse is the fourth largest university in France and one of the oldest universities in Europe.
Attractions La Cite de l'espace, Aeroscopia and Let's Visit Airbus are exciting adventures for travelers who want to learn more about flight and anyone curious about space.
How about food?
Do you love fresh, local food prepared by passionate chefs and vendors? Then Toulouse is definitely for you. Here is a sampling of the delicious food and amazing restaurants you can find.
Located along the River Garonne, Brasserie de Beaux Arts was originally a meeting place for students of the School of Fine Arts. Artists such as Ingres and Matisse frequently visited here to enjoy local flavors.
We started with classic foie gras and tried Toulouse sausages, which we were told were a special recipe for the region. It contained chunks of lean and fatty pork and was unbelievably delicious!
No dinner is complete without a perfect dessert and we were treated to a perfectly chocolate rich dessert. It was rich, sticky, and undeniably delicious.
There's a lot to explore
The best way to sample a variety of local food is to walk the streets of Toulouse. There are markets and shops on every street. One of the largest and largest markets in the city is the Victor Hugo Market.
The market has everything you expect and more. There are many vendors selling fresh produce, flowers, cheese, meat, and fish. We recommend leaving enough time to explore and sample the flavors of the market. One of my favorite things about visiting a market is observing the local shops, carefully evaluating the options, choosing the perfect item, making a purchase, and then heading out on the road knowing that they have chosen the perfect food for their family. It will. Breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Across the street from Victor Hugo Market is the Villa Tropezienne restaurant. A typical French bistro with indoor or outdoor seating. It offers typical bistro menu items such as beef tartare, foie gras, salads, and more.
On this trip we tried many different types of foie gras and pâté. It might not be for everyone, but if you like meaty snacks, you'll love the variety of delicious ways Toulouse has to offer.
One of the most interesting choices was the shaved foie gras we tried at Le L restaurant.
the joy of cooking
While exploring the streets of Toulouse, be sure to stop by and try some delicious food. Whether your passion is gelato, chocolate, wine, beer or any other delicious food or drink, you'll find it in Toulouse.
With over 1,700 places to eat in this city, choosing which one to visit can be the most difficult part of your visit.
There are plenty of outdoor cafes and bistros, but we especially enjoyed the evenings by the riverside. On Monday night, we spotted a group of young people relaxing along the river. Some shared a bottle of wine and takeout food. The cutest thing was watching people from all generations we heard dancing on the riverside. They say it happens almost every day.
Wandering the streets of Toulouse, we noticed kebab stands, ethnic restaurants, gelaterias, pizzerias and burger joints all open late.
city of diversity
This is because Toulouse is a university city with many students. The large number of students means that Toulouse has a diverse community. Take a walk around town and you'll find almost every type of ethnic dining option. It's a modern metropolis with everything from kimchi to kebabs, tapas and tikka masala. In Toulouse, you can quench your craving for cheap and delicious ethnic food.
A friendly and open city, Toulouse is very tourist friendly and many people speak English here. There is also a vibrant LGBT community and gay-friendly activities. If you are interested, please refer to the L'annuaire Solidaire Welcome Facilities Guide for more information.
place to stay
We stayed at the naturally five-star La Cour des Consuls Hotel and Spa, part of Sofitel's M Gallery. The luxurious hotel is centrally located, within easy walking distance of the city center and the riverfront.
The rooms are spacious, comfortable and beautifully decorated. Our stay included a lovely continental breakfast. You can enjoy fresh French pastries, eggs cooked to your liking, meat, cheese and fruit. Honestly, there were more options than we could eat. The breakfast room was quiet, which I really appreciated.
La Cour des Consuls's stunning outdoor restaurant, Le Cenacle, offers al fresco dining in a private courtyard. Michelin-starred chef Jerome Ryon has created a sophisticated yet modern menu. It's a lovely, intimate dining experience.
The hotel also has a beautiful spa using local luxury Graine de Pastel products, which can also be enjoyed in guest rooms.
Toulouse gateway to southwestern France
As we have experienced, Toulouse is a great destination for food travelers. You can easily get there on a short flight from Paris via Air France. Once you arrive in Toulouse, you can also visit other major UNESCO sites such as the city of Carcassone, the Anglican city of Albi, and the Port of Lune in Bourdeaux. Toulouse is another historic, beautiful, welcoming, and delicious region of France that you should add to your travel plans. As you explore its many wonderful offers and experiences, you will truly enjoy this unique and unforgettable city.
Thank you to Atout France for hosting us during our trip to Midi-Pyrénées. We received no financial compensation. All opinions are our own and reflect our experiences.
Find out more about planning your visit to Toulouse at toulouse-visit.com.
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