Favourites: Toulouse, »la vie en rose »
« Ô Toulouse », sang Claude Nougaro about his hometown which is the third most tourist city in France, welcoming more than 5 million tourists each year. The « Pink City » is attractive by its dynamism and its history. Heritage enthusiasts, on their way to the Pyrenees or to Spain, interested in aeronautics and the conquest of space you have to stop in Toulouse.
The capital of Occitanie is HomeCamper’s favorite city of the month of May. In the vicinity or in the very city of Toulouse, HomeCamper hosts with their south-West singing accent welcome you all year round. Let yourself be guided by our unmissable and our good plans of the city chosen by HomeCamper. We are sure that the HomeCamper hosts will also have their great ideas to share with you.
The center of Toulouse, between the Garonne and the Canal du Midi
Let’s start our tour through the historic city center of Toulouse, located between the Canal du Midi and the Garonne, two river axes that have largely contributed to the development of the city. You probably know, Toulouse is dubbed the « Pink City » (La Ville Rose) because of the red bricks of its buildings. The first must be the Capitol, the symbol of the city which is also the town hall, and which is itself built in red bricks. You can visit it from the inside or simply have a drink on the terrace, in the place that bears its name, to contemplate its architecture.
From the Place du Capitole, take Rue Pargaminière and stop at the Jacobins convent. You will then arrive at Place Saint-Pierre, known to be the favorite place of the inhabitant and especially students, for a drink. There you can discover the Quays of the Garonne. Once again you will be struck by the red brick architecture of the La Grave hospital, the new bridge and all the residences along the river. For lovers of religious heritage, you will once again enjoy the brick architecture of St. Sernin Basilica, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
You can do all the tour of the city center on foot. It is also the best way to discover the city, thanks to the pedestrian arteries such as Avenue Alsace Lorraine or Rue Saint-Rome. You can then, shop, or discover the history of Toulouse and specially the Assezat Hotel and the oldest houses of the city located Rue Saint Rome.
Also, in the center of the city, you will find museums such as the Augustins Museum and its remarkable architecture, the Quai des Savoirs which is a museum dedicated to the natural sciences, or the Abattoirs Museum, a museum of modern Art built in the old slaughterhouses of the city.
Toulouse, the « Good Living »
The southwest is known in France and beyond, for its gastronomy and good wines. At the Victor Hugo market, a few steps from the Place du Capitole, you will find typical products from Southwestern France: Duck Meats, cassoulet, wines… Every month the city organizes the Nights of Victor Hugo. Hundreds of inhabitants then go to this covered market in the evening to taste the products offered by the merchants, to the sound of the fanfare.
The Toulousains love good products and like to spend time together in the many restaurants and bars that the city has. There are institutions like L’Entrecôte in downtown recognized for its unique menu and its famous sauce. Then, in the city center, you can also dine on the Place Saint-Georges and its terraces. It’s also a great place to have a drink. The whole town is full of bistros, tapas bar and wine bars where you can discover local gastronomy. The Carmes district count many of them.
To discover with the family
Toulouse is a city with remarkable heritage, but also enjoys a very good dynamism. It is definitely a city to visit with the family. When you arrive in Toulouse, you may see a veritable Arianne rocket. It is part of the Cité de l’Espace, a unique place to discover with the family to learn more about the universe that surrounds us. The Pink City is also reputed to be the capital of European aeronautics, thanks to the giant Airbus. Aeroscopia is a museum that showcases this flagship of the French economy, where young and old can learn more about this sector and climb into actual or historic planes. Sports enthusiasts will find happiness in Toulouse by going to the stadium to see a match of the famous rugby club, Toulouse Stadium or Toulouse Football Club. There are also many circuits for bike, specially at the edge of the Canal du Midi.
HomeCamper’s good plans
To make you fully enjoy the Pink City, HomeCamper gives you two tips. The city Council sets up a tourism Pass which serves as a transport title for metros, buses and trams and allows you to visit museums and monuments free of charge, to have access to discounts on many activities and to enjoy a guided tour of choices. It is possible to buy this Pass at the tourist office located in the Donjon du Capitole or online by clicking here.
Second tip, always at the tourist office you can obtain the Petit Tou, a free, but French, tourist guide of the city created by Toulouse students and which lists all the places of interest and all the good addresses.
In the vicinity
Halfway between the Pyrenean mountains, the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, you are spoilt for choice for activities in the surroundings. An hour from Toulouse, you can discover Albi, another city made of red bricks whose majestic cathedral is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Nearby you will also find the department of Aveyron known for its gorges and nautical activities.
Web site:
