TOULOUSE
Toulouse which is in the Department of the Haute Garonne in the region of the Midi-Pyrenees. Perfectly stituated only 1h30 from the Mediterranean and the Pyrénées in the heart of Southern France a provincial town (4th largest in France) it is vibrant, fun, full of life, with a buzzing nightlife and very beautiful architecture.
The city is relaxed with a somewhat eclectic mix of business, art and culture. This is due to the fact that there is a large and distinguished university with in excess of 115,000 students and that 70 per cent of the industry in the Midi-Pyrénées is in the Toulouse area. With this combination Toulouse has a rich mixture of both affluence and enthusiastic youth. A vibrant and cosmopolitan city Toulouse enjoys varied and intense cultural activities. With a large enthusiastic university population it has a busy cultural calendar with art exhibitions and music performances to suit the taste of almost everyone.
The heart of Toulouse (the old city) is built of red brick which gives it a pink glow at certain times. This has given Toulouse the nickname of the Pink City or Ville Rose as it is sometimes referred to. This city has a distinctive Italian feel which magnificent buildings and architecture dating back to the 16th century.
Whether you are interested in the many museums or galleries, or on a pilgrimage to the romanesque churches or simply want a weekend away, Toulouse is one of France’s most culturally diverse cities and well worth discovering. With a wealth of cultural heritage there are many museums to visit : les Augustins, Saint-Raymond (archaeology), Jacobins monastery complex, “les Abattoirs“ modern and contemporary art space, Saint-Sernin basilica. Alternatively you can stroll along its medieval streets or on the banks of the Canal du Midi , a Unesco World Heritage Site and have a coffee in a café on the Place du Capitole and watch the world go by before shopping in some of the fashionable boutiques in the old quarter. If you’re after nightlife, bars are open late on place du Capitole and place St-Pierre, but there’s also theatre, opera and live classical concerts.
The pleasures of the South West France gastronomy abounds with the specialities of cassoulet and foie gras. Home to one of Frances finest gastronomic restaurants being that of Michel Sarrans which has two michelin stars. Inspired by the territory he has given classical cooking a modern twist. www.michel-sarran.com. 1 Boulevard Armand Duportal, Toulouse.
If you’re on a budget, you will find good simple cheap fare at the student quarter.
If you are a rugby fan Toulouse is well known for its rugby and on the economic side the Airbus.
There has been a lot of investment in the technology and aviation industries and Toulouse is now the global center of aviation engineering thanks to the Airbus A 380 industry which is always in the news.. This has created a secondary wave of industry and research centers, businesses specializing in high technology and an international school.
TRANSPORT
The airport in Toulouse is well served by most scheduled airlines and with the introduction of the low cost airlines to the airport the fares are fiercely competitive.
Airport: Toulouse-Blagnac (less than 15 mins from the city centre / shuttle)
High-speed-train station: 5 hrs from Paris
Motorways: A61, A62, A64, A68, A63, A20 A66 (700 km from Paris)
OFFICE DE TOURISME
Donjon du Capitole
BP 38001
31080 Toulouse Cedex 6
33 (0)5 61 11 02 22
Fax : 33 (0)5 61 23 74 97
For information of places to stay in the area contact the Office du Tourisme
email : infos@ot-toulouse.fr
Tourist info