France’s Pink City
Located on the banks of the River Garonne, Toulouse is a vibrant French city of both contemporary attractions and historical sites. Browse through the exhibits and monuments at the 13th century Saint-Étienne Cathedral, consider modern and contemporary art at Les Abattoirs and marvel over the Gothic façade of Saint Nicolas Church. A guided walk through the city will introduce visitors to Toulouse’s grand town hall The Capitol, the largest Romanesque church in Europe, Saint-Sernin Basilica and the impressive Ursulines Tower. Discover fine arts in the Musée des Augustins, a Gothic structure and former convent. Relax beside the ornate fountain of Wilson Square and enjoy a coffee at one of several terraced cafes. Local delicacies include sugared pastry and the famous Toulouse sausage. Although traditional artwork has a place in Toulouse culture, graffiti art has built a reputation amongst the back streets of the city. Revered by art critics, look out for the signature of Miss Van.
Why Go?
Known as the Pink City due to its red brick buildings, Toulouse is an interesting place of contrasts. Tour the ancient cathedrals and museums or learn of the city’s aerospace pursuits. Marvel over the celebrated graffiti artwork set against 16th century architecture.
When to Go?
Toulouse experiences a temperate and Oceanic climate; this means hot and humid summers and mild winters. Rainfall appears sporadically throughout the year and strong winds are common in the winter months. June- August are considered the best times to visit with average temperatures of 26°C. Spring is pleasant in Toulouse with temperatures exceeding 17°C; it is usually quieter during this period and discounts on flights and accommodation are available.
How to Get There?
Toulouse is served by Toulouse Blagnac Airport (TLS) located 6.7km (approximately 4 miles) west of city centre. Direct flights from London Heathrow with British Airways land daily, the journey takes just under 2 hours. Other UK flight routes include Manchester, Newcastle and Edinburgh. Passengers can take the shuttle bus to Toulouse which takes around 20 minutes. A bus is also available to take passengers to the train station which links Toulouse to other cities in France.
Must See?
Spend an exciting and energetic day at the Cité de l'espace, a favourite amongst locals and visitors to Toulouse. This theme park celebrates space and space travel with large scale models of rockets and a replica of the Mir Space Station. Visit the onsite Planetarium with full surround sound and watch the 3D film. Cité de l'espace has many entertaining and interactive presentations; prepare a rocket for launch and place a satellite in orbit in one of the fascinating exhibits.