Toulouse, known as the "Pink City", is like a vibrant landscape where the red bricks dazzle in the sunlight. The Occtitan atmosphere and conviviality beckon around at every corner. Place du Capitole is the heart of the city, with its lively terraces and bustling nightlife.
The Garonne River promises relaxing strolls and breathtaking sunsets. To see the stars, head for the Cité de l'Espace and its intergalactic adventures. And then, just a short drive away, the Canal du Midi awaits you for timeless escapades...
Highlights of your stay in Toulouse
Toulouse: for many, it's its people with their singing accents, its aerospace cluster, its rugby fervor and its generous dishes. But Toulouse is much more than that, thanks to its diverse neighborhoods, breathtaking sites and monuments and soothing natural spaces... Discover all the many facets of the Occitanie capital.
Our selection of districts and squares to lose yourself in
Les Carmes
Toulouse's busiest and trendiest district.
It's the ideal place to start your visit and get a real feel for the art of living in Toulouse. On the menu: an almost daily covered market with quality local produce, pretty alleyways lined with buildings with colorful facades and lively squares.
Lively during the day, the Carmes district remains highly popular at night, with its many restaurants, bars and wine cellars. A must for any evening out in Toulouse.
Saint-Étienne
Just around the corner from the Carmes district, the Saint-Étienne neighborhood stands in stark contrast. Behind imposing gates, this quiet district houses the bourgeois buildings of the city center, as well as magnificent townhouses once owned by wealthy Toulouse merchants and the Capitouls, who ruled the city from the Middle Ages to the Revolution. Worth a visit: narrow, medieval-style streets, the unusual Saint-Étienne cathedral.
La Daurade and its quays
Sophisticated and bohemian, the La Daurade district is the perfect place to shop and relax.
Looking for designer boutiques or second-hand shops?
Look no further than its narrow shopping streets to find what you're looking for.
An idyllic setting with a view over the Garonne, and in summer, the guinguette. Looking for a night out in Toulouse? La Daurade is just one of the festive spots not to be missed.
The Chalets district
Another of Toulouse's atypical neighborhoods, Les Chalets boasts all the charm of an Occitan village, for locals and tourists alike. With its narrow streets, low brick houses and bourgeois villas, it's a neighborhood where you'll want to stop and disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Saint-Aubin
Welcome to the Montmartre of Toulouse.
Like its Parisian counterpart, this district pulsates to the beat of artists' and craftsmen's work, particularly at the Sunday craft market.
Two must-sees are the Church of Saint-Aubin, with its incredible blend of Romanesque, Gothic and Byzantine architecture, and the Rue de la Colombette, which has enjoyed the status of a free commune since the end of the Second World War.
Saint-Cyprien
Located on the left bank of the Garonne, this neighborhood, which was long the domain of the disenfranchised, is well worth a visit for several reasons:
- cultural attractions such as Les Abattoirs (a museum of modern and contemporary art), the Château d'Eau (a museum of photographic art) and summer cultural events.
- its village spirit and large green spaces (Prairie de Filtres, jardin Raymond VI)
- its open-mindedness: with a host of exotic shops and world cuisine restaurants (tapas bars, pizzerias, restaurants featuring Asian, Indian and African cuisine), it's a cosmopolitan district.
Last but not least, the quayside offers an incredible view of Toulouse la Rose.
A few squares to explore
Each of Toulouse's town squares has its own identity, with its distinctive architecture and neighborhood life.
Here's a guided tour of some of Toulouse's best squares for a relaxing break:
- Place du Capitole, for its breathtaking views
- Place de la Trinité for a drink
- Place Saint-Georges for a bite to eat
- Place Saint-Pierre for a party.
Sites and monuments not to be missed
The Capitol
Built in the 12th century during the reign of the Capitouls, the Capitole is Toulouse's most emblematic building. Transformed many times since then, it now houses the city hall and the Capitole theater. It forms one of the four facades of the majestic Place du Capitole, a 12,000 m² pedestrian square with numerous outdoor cafés where you can contemplate its splendid architecture first-hand. Indoors, don't miss the ceremonial rooms, including the Salle des Illustres, a hall of mirrors featuring 10 giant paintings by Henri Martin retracing the history of Toulouse.
Saint-Sernin Basilica
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this 11th-century stone and brick basilica is one of the largest Romanesque religious buildings in France and the West. For centuries, it has been an important stopover for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela. Its charm lies in its octagonal, 4-storey bell tower.
The Jacobins Convent
Built in the 13th and 14th centuries, this religious complex is a sublime example of Southern Gothic art.
Highlights include
- the church's incredible palm-tree vault, double nave, stained glass windows and octagonal bell tower
- cloister
- the presence of the relics of Saint Thomas Aquinas.
Museums to suit all tastes
Culture is not forgotten in Toulouse, as evidenced by the presence of numerous museums. Among the most famous are :
- Musée des Augustins (Toulouse Fine Arts Museum)
- the Hôtel d'Assézat, home to the Georges Bemberg Foundation collection.
- the Muséum de Toulouse, France's 2nd largest natural history and ethnology museum.
Nature breaks
Toulouse also boasts a number of pretty gardens that offer walkers a pleasant break in the heart of the city:
- the Jardin des Plantes, boasting a wide variety of botanical species, waterfalls and fountains, and a variety of animals to delight children.
- The Pierre Baudis Japanese Garden: red bridge, Zen gardens, Asian plant species, tea pavilion and a wealth of evocative decorative elements. This garden, which has been awarded the “jardin remarquable” label, offers a superb escapade to the Orient.
Experiences to live
Visiting Toulouse also means you'll be thrilled by some typically Toulousian experiences?
Here are four activities to satisfy your curiosity.
Embark on an aerospace adventure
Do you have your head in the stars and dream of conquering space? Visit the Cité de l'espace to learn more about the universe and experience a fabulous immersion in the history of the conquest of space. In the heart of the 2,500 sq. m. of exhibits, you can embark on the LuneXplorer mission to space, delve into the day-to-day life of an astronaut, take a seat in a Soyuz and test your stamina as a would-be astronaut using some of the most sophisticated equipment available. And for those with a passion for aeronautical adventure, visit the Airbus factories or the Envol des Pionniers to rediscover the exploits of l'Aéropostale.
Sailing on the Canal du Midi
Are you more of a sailor? Then opt for a timeless getaway on the superb Canal du Midi. On the program: admire the design of one of Europe's oldest canals (a UNESCO World Heritage site), pass through a few locks, stop off to explore some of France's most beautiful villages by bike. But above all, contemplate nature and live by the water.
Explore the vineyards of Haute-Garonne
If you'd like to get away from it all without going too far from the city, don't hesitate to venture out on Toulouse's wine routes.
On the program: strolls through Occitan vineyards, meetings with local winegrowers, cellar visits, oenological activities... and, of course, tastings of AOC Fronton or IGP Comté Tolosan wines (to be enjoyed in moderation!).
The Toulousan art of living
Looking for more intensity? In Toulouse, the rugby world awaits you. The city lives to the rhythm of the tournaments played by the “Rouge et Noir”, players from its famous club, the Stade Toulousain. The best way to experience the incredible fervor of Toulouse's rugby fans is to buy a ticket for a match at the Stade Toulousain Ernest Wallon. Enjoy the 1st, 2nd and 3rd halves. Atmosphere guaranteed!
Toulouse's culinary specialties
Heritage, culture, cutting-edge industry... Visiting Toulouse has plenty to offer, but perhaps the area in which this city and its region excel most is gastronomy. In fact, it has been recognized as one of the cities where you can enjoy “the most local cuisine in the world”. So it's impossible to explore Toulouse and miss out on its fine produce and specialities. Here are our suggestions for your next visit.
Savoury side
- Toulouse sausage: the local specialty.
- Enjoy it as an aperitif, sandwich, barbecue or topping for cassoulet.
- Cassoulet : while it's the specialty of much of the Occitan southwest, there's also a local version. Among the must-tries of Toulouse cassoulet: melting white beans, duck confit, Toulouse sausage, and often mutton and lamb.
- Foie gras de canard du Sud-ouest: a festive delicacy par excellence, it's on the menu of Toulouse restaurants all year round.
- Magret de Canard: duck fillet with skin, served pink with crispy golden skin.
- Poulet à la Toulousaine: chicken stuffed with sausage meat, baked with garlic and olives.
- Cheeses: if you've got any appetite left before dessert, the region also has its own cheese specialities, including Pavé de Toulouse (made from raw cow's milk) and Saint-Germier (a creamy ewe's milk cheese).
Sweet side
- Fénétra : a recipe dating back to antiquity, this cake still delights the taste buds with its candied lemon, meringue and almonds.
- Croustade aux pommes: a kind of apple tart drizzled with melted butter, this is one of Toulouse's gourmet specialties.
- Confectionery: the very recognizable Toulouse violets (available in candy, chocolate, tea, etc.), as well as the Capitole brick (made from puff pastry and praline).
