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Toulouse is a city in southwestern France, near the Pyrenees, capital of Haute-Garonne in the Midi-Pyrenees region, half way between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Toulouse is the fourth largest city in France, after Paris, Marseille and Lyon, and it is known as the capital of French rugby and for violets, which are used to make bonbons and liqueurs there.

Toulouse Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Toulouse)

Understand

Hôtel Dieu Saint-Jacques courtyard

Toulouse has become a center of aviation and spaceflight in the past 20 years. More than 35,000 of the inner city's 400,000 citizens work in the civil aviation or space industries; Airbus / EADS is the largest employer in the region. The city has remained relatively unchanged despite the economic boom.

Toulouse is also heavily involved in research and education, being home to over 100,000 students. The University of Toulouse is one of the oldest in the world, founded in 1229.

The city at the Garonne river is on the site of an ancient Roman settlement; even today many of the smaller streets follow their Roman counterparts and many of the red brick buildings are of a pseudo-Roman style. These buildings are also what gives Toulouse its nickname La ville rose (The pink city).

In the Middle Ages, Toulouse was one of the richest cities of France due to the sale of blue coloring (pastel) extracted from woad plants. This monopoly was only broken when the Portuguese began to import Indigo to Europe. Over 50 hotels, mansions, remain witness to the past wealth.

The Toulouse Tourist Office is in the back of the Capitolium.

Get in

By plane

Regular scheduled domestic and international flights arrive at Blagnac airport, about 20 minutes from the city. It serves connections from Paris about every 30 minutes. There are many other flights as well, for example to London, Munich and Frankfurt.

To get to the city from the airport, you can use the airport shuttle for €5.50 which takes about 30 minutes. Another option is to use the tramway line T2 which connects the airport to the inner city for €1.60.

Going by taxi is also another option, and it will cost about €20.

The departure/arrival hall for flights can be found by searching for the flight number at the airport website.

By train

The 18th-century Building 8, place Sainte-Scarbes

Trains run from Toulouse-Matabiau station in the city centre. Regular TGV services run to Bordeaux, Paris and Lyon with connections to other destinations at any of these cities as well. Especially cheap tickets for Paris can be found via iDTGV starting from about €18. There are also regular intercity connections for Bordeaux and Marseille (with stops at Carcasonne, Montpellier and Arles, among others) and for Paris via Limoges and Orléans. In addition, Spanish railways RENFE runs a daily AVE service to Barcelona in cooperation with SNCF.
Approximate travel times are as follows:

  • Paris: 5 hours 30 minutes (by TGV), 6 hours 30 minutes (intercity), 8 hours (night train)
  • Lyon: 4 hours (by TGV)
  • Barcelona: 3 hours 20 minutes (by AVE)
  • Bordeaux: 2 hours
  • Marseille: 4 hours

For all these long-distance relations, the general rule is that booking early will give you cheaper fares. The timetable and fares can be found at [1].

Toulouse is one end of the very scenic train line through the Pyrenees (TER Midi-Pyrénées line 22). This line passes through Ariège, and most trains end at in Foix. However, 6 trains a day continue from Toulouse and Foix on to Andorre-L'Hospitalet (the closest train station to Andorra) and Latour-de-Carol, at which you can change trains towards Barcelona. The train to Andorre-L'Hospitalet takes 3 hours, 30 minutes, and the full journey to Barcelona takes about 7 hours (including the change at Latour-de-Carol) and costs €30. The schedule for the French train is on the Touristic Routes section of the SNCF website, while the Spanish schedule can be found by looking on the Rodalies de Catalunya page. The Catalan name of Latour-de-Carol is La Tor de Querol as listed on the Rodalies webpage.

By car

Major highways towards Paris, Bordeaux, Marseille, Barcelona

By bus

Bus and metro terminal at the railway station.

Bus services to Spain, Belgium, Italy, and Portugal can be made through Alsa bus departing from the main bus station in Toulouse. [2]

Get around

The landmarked building at 20 place du Président Thomas Wilson

Toulouse is a big city, but the historical centre (downtown) is quite small, so you can walk to most beautiful and famous destinations in the inner city quite comfortably. This is definitely the best way to explore the city. For getting in and out of the centre, Toulouse has a network of bus and metro lines. The bus services, called Tisséo, are complemented by metro and tramway lines. But most bus services stop around 21:30 so you could be stranded. There is only one, licensed taxi operator (Capitole Taxi) and the service can be very poor. If you want to get back to your hotel after the buses have stopped, you need to pre-book a taxi or be prepared for a wait which could be over an hour.

The metro is relatively small, there are two lines, one going east-west (line A), and the other going north-south (B), but is modern and easy-to-use. The line C, leaving from the station Arènes, is not a metro line, but is a regional above-ground train which serves communities to the west of Toulouse including St. Martin du Touch, Colomiers, and l'Isle Jourdain, all the way to the city of Auch in the department Gers. The tramway also leaves from the station Arènes, and serves the northern city of Blagnac. There is another tramway line under construction, which will run alongside the Garonne.

Public transport company web site:

Page with the network map, and specific maps and schedules for all the bus and metro lines: [3] This page features an online travel planner ("recherche d'itinéraires" tab) that will indicate the route and times to get from one place to another at a given time.

By car

You should avoid going downtown with a car, as parking space is seriously limited. One good option is to drive to a metro station out of the center and park there, then head downtown by metro.

See

Ambulatory ceiling - Cathedral Saint-Etienne
Toulouse Capitole at night

Toulouse has a small center, and you can reach most interesting places in the downtown area comfortably on foot.

  • Basilique Saint Sernin - a church from the 11th Century, partly restored by the famous French architect Viollet-le-Duc.
  • Notre-Dame de La Daurade - a basilica dating from the 5th century, overlooking the Garonne river
  • Cathédrale Saint Etienne - a Roman Catholic cathedral dating from the 11th century, now the seat of the Archbishop of Toulouse.
  • Hôtel d'Assézat - one of the most appealing of the many old mansions of the city
  • Capitole - the imposing and palatial building in the center of the city houses both the city hall and city theater, its beautiful façade facing onto the grand Place du Capitole
  • Pont-Neuf - despite its name (like the Parisian bridge of the same name, its title is most probably derived from the French for 'New', not 'Nine'.), the only old bridge across the Garonne river; built between 1544 and 1626
  • Les Jacobins monastery church, contains Thomas Aquinas' relics.
  • Canal du Midi. The Canal du Midi or Canal des Deux Mers is a 240 km long canal in the south of France, le Midi. The canal connects the Garonne River to the Étang de Thau on the Mediterranean. The Canal du Midi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Museums

Museum des Augustins, Augustinian convent before French Revolution
An Ariane 5 rocket, with models of Saturn and Jupiter in the foreground, at Cité de l'Espace in Toulouse.
  • Jardin des Plantes, a public park and botanical gardens on the south-east side of the city center. The park includes a Natural History Museum.
  • Les Augustins Used to be a monastery church, and is today an art museum
  • Les Abattoirs Modern Arts museum, and there is also a nice garden with a nice view on the Garonne
  • Georges Labit Museum Asian arts and Egyptian antiquities museum in an exotic and Mediterranean garden built in 1893, 17 rue du Japon
  • Airbus Visit. Airbus offers tours of their facilities; the tour takes about 60 minutes and includes a guide who will tell you some background about the company; the screening of a promotional / historical video, and a look at the A380 production line. Photography is strictly forbidden, and you need to bring a piece of photo identification. Book ahead. Those who have done the tour before 2006 should note that tours now set off from a new purpose-built structure shaped like a cross-section of the A380. The building can be difficult to find so check the website in advance. 
  • Cité de l'Espace (Space City) (By bus: take bus route no. 37 from the Jolimont metro station going to La Plaine, ask for the Cité de l'espace bus stop.). Another of Toulouse's "aviation" attractions. However you must be aware that it is not exactly a museum but a sort of scientific theme park without rides. There are some replicas of spacecraft and other exhibits, many of the latter interactive in some minor way. There's also a small planetarium. The park is suited well to 5-14 year old children, everybody else should probably spare themselves the trip. It's situated fairly far outside the city but there's a bus service starting outside the Jolimont metro station. Adults : €18.5, children: €12. 

Do

Rugby union match in Toulouse.
  • Take a walk through the city and along the Canal du Midi
  • Have a walk along the Garonne river from St Pierre bridge and Pont-neuf during the evening.
  • Party at St Pierre Place: very popular among Toulouse's students
  • Rent a bike from Tisseo 'Velibe stations' for €1 per day which can be found throughout the city centre. The 'velibe' works like a bike taxi, with the first 30 minutes at no extra charge, but if you go over the 30 minutes you pay extra. You can use the bikes as many times as you like throughout your '1 euro day' fee.
  • See a Rugby Match. If you are fortunate enough to be in Toulouse on match day, follow the crowds and the excitement to the stadium and soak up the atmosphere while watching of one of Europe's top Rugby Union teams Stade Toulousain. If you prefer league, then Toulouse's very own Toulouse Olympique plays in both the Co-operative Championship and the Challenge Cup. The matches are very family friendly and the atmosphere is electric!

The Toulouse Alternative Arts Scene

Websites are in French

  • Toulouse is one of the most alternative French cities - maybe due to its huge student population and its historical past with half a million Spanish republicans who settled in the region after they lost the Spanish Civil War and escaped through the Pyrenees during the 'Retirada' in 1939. So even though the city is trying to get rid of them, it still offers a large number of squats, some of them hosting artistic movements. MixArt Myrys is one of the oldest and most active squat of artists within the city.
  • La Dynamo. Is a club located in a former sex club and a great place to see live bands and other performances - ça bouge! Located in the city centre at 6 rue Amélie (Metro Jean Jaurès). 
  • Les Motivées is an association that is very active on the political and social scene in Toulouse, and that organises or takes part in many free events, strikes, concerts, etc. throughout the year. They founded a political party a few years ago that is pretty active locally and holds a few positions with the City Hall Council. Check also the Tactikollectif their fellow co-working association on events like festivals, etc. that has its origin in the Northern quarters of Toulouse, which are the ones with social housing and lower quality of life.
  • La Grainerie. Is more particularly dedicated to circus and was first created and settled on derelict brown land; it hosts various collectives of artists every year. 
  • L'Usine. Another residence for artists and collectives, located in the suburb of Tournefeuille, 12 km from the city centre of Toulouse. 

Learn

There are a lot of universities in Toulouse. It has the second largest student population in France: 120,000. In Toulouse there are major universities and lots of engineering or management schools.

Work

Anglophone travellers might find employment in the Aviation industry; however even here French is commonly used. Also, with the current heightened security concerns, extensive screening is required for new employees, so these jobs are not suited for short-term work.

Eat

Local specialties

Filet of duck breast covered by a slice of foie gras

Like all of France, you will not be disappointed with the food Toulouse offers.

Duck is a regional specialty, and thus many restaurants will offer duck for dinner.

Cassoulet is the most famous regional dish, a stew made with white beans, various kinds of meat, and pork skin.

Where to eat

Interior of Café Bibent, a historical monument
  • Délicatessen, 11 Rue Riquet (Metro François-Verdier), ☏ +33 5 61 62 49 00. Mon-Fri 4pm–2am, Sat 6pm–3am, Sun 11am–4:30pm, 6pm–2am. Busy tapas bar with friendly atmosphere that offers meals, a good selection of beers on tap and a real happy hour; tapas here are tasty, cheap and generous (choose 5 for €16.50 - March 2012). It's a popular place so it's better to get there a little earlier in the evening. 
  • restaurants at Victor Hugo market (Marché couvert Victor Hugo), Place Victor Hugo, ☏ +33 5 61 22 76 92. Market open Tue-Sat, from dawn to 1pm. Restaurants take orders at least until 2:30pm. During lunch time go to the first floor of the market (that would be second floor for the Americans - in short, the one above the market stalls), you'll find 5 good restaurants at a reasonable price. Market atmosphere, and better be patient to wait for seats as no reservations are possible, but it is worth it if you want to feel a typical local atmosphere. 

Drink

Buy

Opening hours in Toulouse are generally Mon-Sat 9AM-1PM and 3PM-7PM, but there are numerous exceptions.

  • As Toulouse is a city of aviation and spaceflight, check Airbus and the Cité de l'Espace for souvenirs
  • There's a flea market every Saturday morning in just outside of the Basilique Saint Sernin. While it does not offer anything too special as flea markets go it's a great way to mingle with a local crowd. Another flea market is held every first weekend of the month at the Allées François Verdier, at the Grand Rond.
  • The Marché Saint Aubin is a farmer's market surrounding the Saint Aubin basilica every Sunday morning, selling local vegetables and fruits. The atmosphere is very relaxed and there is often live music and dancing.
  • Every weekday morning, the Boulevard de Strasbourg hosts the city's most affordable vegetable and fruit market.
  • There are excellent second hand clothing shops or "friperies", especially on Rue Gambetta and in the whole district behind the 'Ecole des Beaux Arts', around the 'place de la Bourse' which is the historical textile production quarter of Toulouse
  • If you are on a budget, the supermarkets where most students use to go are the brands 'Lidl' and 'Leader Price'. Those are to be found more on the 'edges' of the city (though some are accessible with the underground). In the centre, go for Champion or Géant Casino.

Sleep

The mid 19th-century Hotel le Grand Balcon, classed as a historical monument by the French Ministry of Culture, still takes reservations today

Hostels

Hotels

  • Citadines Wilson Toulouse, 8, boulevard de Strasbourg, ☏ +33 5 34 41 75 00, fax: +33 5 61 99 07 55, . This residence is comprised of 104 flats in two wings of 4 and 9 floors, ranging from studios to one-bedroom layouts. Every apartment is fully air-conditioned, and houses a bathroom and a fully-equipped kitchen area complete with stove, microwave/grill and dishwasher and fridge. Some studios are equipped for people with reduced mobility. 
  • Holiday Inn Le Capoul, 15 Place Wilson, ☏ +33 56110 7070, fax: +33 56121 9670. Rooms are up to 155 €/night (without any discounts you may get), plus 13€ for breakfast.. 
  • Novotel Airport is about 15 minutes from the airport, and there is a shuttle bus. Has decent, standard Novotel rooms. Staff speaks little to no English, except those at the reception.

Connect

Cope

The world heritage listed Canal du Midi

Consulates

List of Consulates in Toulouse available at: http://www.toulouse.fr/international/consulats

Local media

  • Toulouse has its own TV channel, which is only broadcast within the city and its close surroundings. It is still very well known to locals and is named TLT which stands for Télévision Locale Toulouse (Toulouse Local TV) - in French only
  • Intramuros, a weekly local newspaper with local news, the latest movies/theater plays/shows/concerts and local events of every kind, etc. - for free and available in various places e.g. alternative cinemas, etc.
  • A localised edition of the newspaper La Dépêche du Midi is also widely available.

Go next


This city travel guide to Toulouse is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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