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Toulouse Travel & Sightseeing Guide

January 11, 2008 |

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A trip to Toulouse
Toulouse has recently made a name for itself as the aviation and spaceflight capital of France, with a huge boom in the industry over the past couple decades having helped the city to prosper. This unique status, combined with its richness in history and entertainment, attracts a great number of international tourists looking for an exciting vacation spot.

Flights to Toulouse
Toulouse Blagnac International Airport receives both domestic and international flights, with the latter from mainly European destinations. There are hourly connections with Paris and numerous daily flights to other nearby capitals as well.
From the airport, frequent shuttle services and taxis take passengers to the city centre in about 20 minutes. If you are looking for a cheap flight to Toulouse try Ebookers.

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Sightseeing in Toulouse
The town centre has many historical attractions, including the beautiful and immense Capitole building that houses the city government and a theatre. Overlooking the Place du Capitole, this building has been used as a city hall since the 12th century.

The Basilica of St-Sernin, built in the 11th century, is the largest Romanesque church in the country. The 13th-century Church of the Jacobins holds the relics of Thomas Aquinas, making it a popular attraction. The Hôtel de Bernuy and Hôtel d’Assézat are two of the city’s many wonderful Renaissance mansions, which are well worth visiting. A walk by the Garonne leads you to Pont Neuf, the only 16th-century bridge crossing this river.

The Musée des Augustins is an interesting art museum that was formerly a monastery church. Les Abbatoirs is a lovely modern art museum surrounded by a garden with precious views. The numerous universities located in the city always provide a pleasant option for exploring on foot. Other attractions in Toulouse include the cathedral of St-Étienne, Musée Paul-Dupuy, and the Cité de l’Espace, which is suitable for children interested in learning more about spaceflight and aviation. Airbus also offers a tour of its facilities.

Book Sightseeing Tours

Fun by night – eating drinking and partying
Toulouse lives up to France’s renowned culinary reputation, with no lack of tasty menus to choose from. Duck is a local specialty, as is cassoulet, a type of bean stew. Restaurants abound, run by chefs eager to share their expertise. There are also several tea rooms for those seeking out a light snack instead of a full meal.

The local students fuel the city’s lively nightlife, with plenty of live music and concerts offered year-round. Pubs are extremely popular, with a huge variety of them clustered around the trendier neighbourhoods. When the nightclubs close, many people head to one of the after hours spots to keep the party going all night.

Fun by day - shopping and activities
Exploring the markets is a great way to get a taste of local life. There are fresh produce markets daily and a large flea market on Sunday mornings. Toulouse is a convenient base for making trips to other parts of southwestern France. Other towns worth visiting are medieval Puy l’Eveque and fortified Cordes. Albi is a popular destination for its huge collection of Toulouse-Lautrec artwork.


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