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Toulouse

Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Haute-Garonne

Toulouse - Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Haute-Garonne
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Situated in the heart of south-west France, Toulouse is very aptly known as the “Pink City”. The pinkish colour of the bricks of its buildings and houses gives the city a unique charm.

Renowned for its atmosphere of good living, Toulouse is also a City of Art and History with an important architectural and artistic heritage, which has been stunningly well protected over the last centuries. It is delightful to discover its historic centre, which abounds in mansions from the Renaissance period. A jewel! This privilege makes of Toulouse the richest city in France for Renaissance mansions. These prestigious residences built in the 16th century by rich pastel traders are a reminder of the city's prosperity in the days of the pastel trade. This dye-producing plant used to be grown in the plains around the Lauragais. Among the most beautiful Renaissance buildings of the city are : the Assézat mansion, which is today home to the Bemberg foundation, a private museum hosting a collection of paintings; the Bernuy mansion flanked with an octagonal tower; The Vieux-Raisin mansion; the Clary mansion or Pierre mansion.

An essential place to see is the Place du Capitol, the heart of the city. This very bustling square is surrounded by beautiful buildings such as the Capitol, a prestigious, 8-columned 16th-century building housing the town hall and theatre. Behind it is a 16th-century keep, the former Archives tower, which is today the main tourist office.

Next to be visited are the remarkable religious monuments of the old town: the Saint-Sernin basilica and its octagonal bell tower, a masterpiece of Romanesque art; the Jacobins cloister, a gem of Languedoc Gothic art, with its beautiful brick-built church and its main cloister building.

The pretty banks of the Garonne river, especially the Henri Martin walkway and the Daurade district, are lovely places to stroll along and relax in the sun.

The full-of-life streets in the historic centre are lined with a large number of cafés and shops. Ideal for shopping or to sip a drink on one of the numerous café terraces. Toulouse is also nightlife heaven with numerous restaurants, theatres, shows, bars, pubs and nightclubs. Furthermore, the buildings, monuments and houses in the old town are beautifully lit once night falls. Which makes Toulouse's heritage fantastic to see by night.

City of Art and History, Toulouse is also a future-orientated hub of innovation with its aeronautics and space industries. Certain aspects of these two vast fields are accessible to the public: for example the Cité de l'Espace space museum, which offers interactive exhibitions and shows, and the Airbus site, which puts on guided tours, including of the new Airbus A380.

Additional information
Toulouse

From the Garonne to the Canal du Midi, from Saint-Sernin to the Cité de l'Espace, Toulouse invites you to come and discover its many faces.

Things to see and do

He welcomed all the unhappy, beggars, vagabonds, women of evil life and pilgrims. His role was more to collect than to heal. It became a true center of care and education in the 19th century. Today, there is the administrative center of the CHU and recently a museum of medicine and a museum of medical instruments of the Hospitals of Toulouse.

Leisure activities

Last nameActivity typeRateCity
Cité de l'Espace : 1-day ticket
Culture and education26 € Toulouse
Open-top minibus tour of Toulouse
Culture and education16 € to 29 € Toulouse
Toulouse Tourist Pass : monuments, museums, transport + 1 guided tour - Valid for 3 days
Culture and education30 € Toulouse

Places of interest

Information points
Leisure centres
Monuments
Performance halls
Transport

Events and festivities

Detailed information

Marathon des Mots
One of the biggest international festivals of French literatureFrom 25 to 30 june 2024

Photos

Facade of Saint-Raymond museum
Facade of Saint-Raymond museum
See photo
Musée des Augustins
Musée des Augustins
See photo
Museum of Old Toulouse
Museum of Old Toulouse
See photo
New Bridge over the Garonne
New Bridge over the Garonne
See photo
The Garonne
The Garonne
See photo
Donjon du Capitole (tourist)
Donjon du Capitole (tourist)
See photo
Nonprofit Saint Sernin Basilica
Nonprofit Saint Sernin Basilica
See photo
Capitol - Fronton
Capitol - Fronton
See photo
Central Capitol - Fronton left
Central Capitol - Fronton left
See photo
Capitol - Fronton right
Capitol - Fronton right
See photo
Our Lady of Dalbade
Our Lady of Dalbade
See photo
old tram Expo
old tram Expo
See photo

Visits, leisure and activities nearby

Restaurants

Bed & breakfasts

Vacation rentals

Campsites

Hotels

Your holidays
A hotel
A vacation rental
A bed & breakfast
A campsite
A leisure activity
A restaurant
A rental car
A plane ticket
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