Toulouse

The city was a Roman settlement, "Tolosa", and the smaller inner streets still follow the ancient layout. In the Middle Ages, Toulouse ruled an independent county, but it joined the Kingdom of France in 1271. In the fourteenth century, it was devastated by pogroms, the Black Death, famine, and war. Then, in the fifteenth century, it became wealthy from its monopoly on "pastel," a blue pigment extracted from woad plants, only to slump again when the monopoly was broken by indigo imports from India. In 1750, after its recovery, the city was rebuilt in pink terracotta brick, giving rise to its nickname La ville rose. The university flourished: founded in 1229, it's one of the oldest in the world, and now has over 100,000 students. Fermat pondered his theorems here in between his legal work.
Since the late 20th century, Toulouse has become a centre of aviation and spaceflight. More than 35,000 of the inner city's 400,000 citizens work in the civil aviation or space industries, and Airbus / EADS is the largest employer in the region.

Visitor information

• Toulouse Tourist Office

  phone: +33 892 18 01 80
  address: Donjon du Capitole, Square Charles de Gaulle
  Visitor information centre with information on local businesses, accommodations, events and activities.

By plane

Regular domestic and international flights arrive at

Toulouse–Blagnac AirportThere are flights at least hourly to Paris (Orly Airport and CDG). Other domestic destinations include Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Nice, and Strasbourg. International flights include Algiers, Amsterdam Schiphol, Berlin, Birmingham, Bristol, Brussels, Casablanca, Frankfurt Airport, Lisbon, London (Heathrow, Gatwick & Stansted), Madrid Barajas, Manchester Airport, Munich Airport, Oran, and Venice. You'll also see strange, "where's that??" destinations on the arrivals / departures board. These are technical and service flights by Airbus, based here; usually near-empty, but you'll need a company connection to blag a seat aboard.

The main onward travel options are:

• Tramway line T2 runs to the city's western interchange at Arènes (20 mins) and Palais de Justice on the east bank just south of the centre (30 mins), every 10-30 mins 6 am to midnight. Walk-up single fare is €2, cheaper in advance, see "Get around" for local transport deals.
• The airport shuttle bus runs from Arrivals Gate C to the main railway station, every 20 mins from 6 am to midnight. Single fare is €8, valid for 90 mins for transfers onto city public transport.
• Other public buses are Tisseo #30 to Fenouillet (10 km north of Toulouse, on railway mainline) and Haut-Garonne #88 to Grenade (25 km north).
• A taxi to central Toulouse will cost about €20.
• Shuttles can be arranged to other destinations, e.g. Andorra.

There are car hire facilities at the airport, and a Novotel close by.

By train

• Toulouse-Matabiau stationRegular TGV services run from Bordeaux, Paris Montparnasse and Lyon. There are also regular Intercity connections from Bordeaux, and from Marseille via Arles, Montpellier, Narbonne and Carcassonne.

Approximate travel times:

• Paris : 4 hours 20 minutes; there are also connections via Bordeaux (5 hours) and a night train (8 hours)
• Bordeaux: 2 hours
• Lyon: 4 hours
• Narbonne: 1 hour 20 minutes, change here for Perpignan, Girona and Barcelona.
• Marseille: 4 hours, change here for Nice, Monaco and Genoa.

There's a choice of routes to & from Spain. Quickest is east to the coast at Narbonne, then south past Perpignan over to Barcelona. For the Spanish Basque country, Asturias and Galicia, go via Tarbes and Pau to Bayonne then west. A slow winding train line also crosses the Pyrenees via Latour to Barcelona: see "Go next".
TGVs and Intercities are cheapest if booked early, especially with "Prem" fares, see voyages-sncf.com. For TER trains, just buy on the day at the station.

By car

Major highways towards Paris, Bordeaux, Marseille, Barcelona

By bus

The bus station is just north of the main railway station and is on the Metro. The airport shuttle bus terminates here.
Eurolines and Flix Bus run to Paris and Marseille.
Alsa runs most of the services into Spain, e.g. Barcelona, Zaragoza and Madrid.
Andbus runs shuttles to & from Andorra la Vella 2-3 times per day. One-way trip takes about 2.5 to 3 hours and costs €36.

By boat

Toulouse is the mid-point of the "Canal des Deux Mers" linking the Atlantic with the Mediterranean. The eastern part, the Canal du Midi, is the most interesting, as it climbs out from Toulouse over the hills then down through Carcassonne and Beziers to reach the Med at Sete. The western part parallels the River Garonne down through Agen to Bordeaux and the Gironde estuary. You'll need to hire a long-boat and set aside several weeks. Check ahead in case any canal sections are closed for repair.

Toulouse is a big city, but the historical centre is quite small, and mostly pedestrianised. You can walk to most attractions.
The bus, tram and metro lines are operated by Tisseo (website in French, English or Spanish). The trams start downtown at Palais de Justice, cross the river west to the interchange at Arènes, then run north before dividing: T2 to the airport, T1 to Beauzelle and the Airbus factory. Metro line A runs SW to NE, from the University through Arènes and the railway station. Metro line B runs north-south, passing the main railway station and Palais de Justice. Two other lines are actually suburban trains: Line C west to Colomiers and Auch, and line D south to Muret. Buses run along all the main streets but don't come into the pedestrianised core of the city, except the free city-centre shuttle (Mon-Sat) - no bus stops for this one, just wave at the driver.
A single ticket paid on the bus costs €2. A ticket from a machine or kiosk for any Tisseo transport is €1.60, a book of 10 is €13.40 and a one-day pass is €6. Validate your ticket on boarding, and it's good for transfers within one hour (within 90 mins to & from the airport.) Services become sparse late evening, but there's an extensive night network.
Taxi operators include Toulouse Taxi and Capitole Taxi. Pre-book to avoid long waits for a ride.
The bike rental scheme is run by Town Hall. First you need to register with ID and credit card at velo.toulouse.fr. A one-day ticket is 1.20€ and a 7 day pass is 5€, longer hires are available. You have unlimited journeys, for no extra charge for the first 30 mins, then the meter starts ticking.
Avoid going downtown with a car as parking space is seriously limited. Try using a suburban metro / tram station as a park-and-ride.

In the centre

The old centre of Toulouse is east of the River Garonne: it's compact and most places of interest can easily be visited on foot. It's bounded to the east & north by Bvd Lazare Carnot / Bvd de Strasbourg, and to the south by the cathedral, rue Metz and Pont Neuf. The quays will become a good strolling spot but in early 2018 are being refurbished.

• Basilique Saint-SerninA red-brick church from the 11-12th Century, it may well be the largest Romanesque construction in the world - perhaps because it was an important stopover on the pilgrimage to Santiago. Huge as it is, it's the only remaining part of the former Abbey of Saint-Sernin. Notable features are the great bell-tower, the gates, the "ambulatory" passage, and the thunderous organ. In the 19th C the church was "restored" by the famous French architect Viollet-le-Duc: some of his re-imaginings of the Middle Ages are now being undone.

• Saint Raymond Museum

  phone: +33 5 61 22 31 44
  address: Place Saint-Sernin
  An archaeological museum with Roman artefacts from around Toulouse as well as the largest collection of Roman busts found in France. The building itself is a historic monument. Has an elevator, gift shop and free bathrooms.

• Notre-Dame de La DauradeThis church was founded in the 5th century but demolished in the 18th; the present building dates from the 19th C. The church is closed for restoration until 2019. You can look in, but everything's covered in shrouds and scaffolding.

• Cathédrale Saint EtienneThis great ramshackle edifice is partly Gothic but mostly Dog's Breakfast - the medieval builders have made a hash of things on a sublime scale. They half-built one church, abandoned it, started building another, abandoned that, while other sections were added and added instead of starting over with a clear site. The Archbishop of Toulouse has to come to work in this Frankencathedral.

• Hôtel d'Assézat

  phone: +33 5 61 12 06 89
  address: Place d'Assézat
  Great mansion house built in the 16th C in Renaissance style for a rich merchant. It now houses the Fondation Bemberg, the personal art collection of Georges Bemberg (1915-2011).

• CapitoleMagnificent red-brick building in Neoclassical style, lording it over the pedestrianised main square Place du Capitole. It houses City Hall (with a grandiose "Salle des Illustres") and the city's main theatre.

• Pont-NeufLike the Parisian Pont-Neuf, the name means "New Bridge" - though it's by far the oldest bridge across the Garonne river. Construction dragged on from 1544 to 1626. The arches aren't symmetrical - they were supposed to represent the face and haunches of a lion, but you'll need a lot of imagination to visualise that.
  The water-tower ("chateau d'eau") at its west end hosts photography exhibitions.

• Couvent des Jacobins

  address: rue Lakanal
  Deconsecrated mother-church of the Dominicans (called Jacobins in France because their first convent was in rue St-Jacques in Paris). Built in Gothic red brick, it contains St Thomas Aquinas' relics. It's now a museum, enclosing the convent, refectory, chapel of St Antonin and Salle Capitulaire.

• Musée des Augustins

  phone: +33 5 61 22 21 82
  address: 21 rue de Metz
  Fine arts museum set in a former Augustinian monastery surrounding two delightful cloisters.

Further out

• Les Abattoirs

  address: 76 allee Charles de Fitte
  Vast former abattoir now housing a contemporary arts museum, and there is also a nice garden overlooking the Garonne.

• Jardin des PlantesYou'll think you're walking into a monastery: the present gardens were located in an old Carmelite friary, before expanding south. Just north on Allée Jules Guesde is the Natural History Museum (Tues-Sun 10-6, closed Mon)

• Musée Georges Labit

  address: 17 rue du Japon
  Asian arts and Egyptian antiquities museum in an exotic and Mediterranean garden built in 1893.

• Airbus Visit

  phone: +33 5 34 39 42 00
  Advance online booking is essential, via Manatours - at least 2 days in advance if you don't have an EU passport or identity card. There's a 90 minute guided tour of the Airbus A380 production line, in the JJ Lagardere factory (possibly the biggest building in the world) then a visit to the Aeroscopia Museum. Tours nowadays don't take in the older factory in the Clement Ader building.

• Cité de l'Espace

  address: ave Jean Gornod
  Scientific theme park with interactive exhibits on space travel and replica spacecraft. Most suited to 5-14 year olds.

• Take a walk through the city, out over the Pont Neuf, along the river quays, or along the Canal du Midi.

• Canal du MidiThis is the eastern and more interesting section of the "Canal des Deux Mers", and it's a . It starts from the River Garonne in Toulouse, so its first few miles are walkable from the centre. But the best sections are further out, as it climbs the hillside then descends through Carcassonne and Beziers towards Étang de Thau on the Med. So you probably want a bike or canal barge to explore it.

• Party at : very popular among Toulouse's students
• Rent a bike: see "Get around".
• Watch a Rugby match. ("Les rouges et noirs") play Rugby Union in the French Top 14. They're seldom out of the top places and so qualify for European tournaments - they've won the European Rugby Champions Cup a record four times. Their home ground is Stade Ernest Wallon, but big matches are often played at the Stadium Municipal. If you prefer league, you might do better in England, as Toulouse Olympique play there in the Championship—though home matches are held in Toulouse at Stade Ernest-Argelès. Their second-string team Toulouse Olympique Broncos remain in the French Elite One Championship, playing at Stade de Minimes.
• Watch soccer: Toulouse FC are based at the and play in French Ligue 1.

Alternative Arts Scene

Toulouse is one of the most alternative French cities. It started in 1939 with an influx of Spanish republicans who'd lost the Civil War and fled through the Pyrenees, and continued in the 1960s with an influx from Algeria. Their tradition continues with the city's students, squatters, and artistic movements.

• Mix'Art MyrysOne of the oldest and most active squat of artists within the city.

• La Sainte Dynamo

  address: 6 rue Amélie
  Bar & club located in a former sex club and a great place to see live bands and other performances - ça bouge!
• 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

  address: rue St Jean
  Hosts various collectives of artists every year, has a special interest in circus.

• L'Usine

  address: 6 Impasse Marcel Paul, off Bvd Marcel Paul, Tournefeuille
  Another residence for artists and collectives.

• COUACDefends the local associative and alternative cultural world, whereas the Toulouse Réseau Unitaire Citoyen aims at stirring local, social and political debates.

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.

Local specialties

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 such as canard confit (roast duck leg) or canard foie gras (duck liver delicacy).
Cassoulet is the most famous regional dish, a stew made with white beans, various kinds of meat, and pork skin. Sometimes the dish's meat is Toulouse sausage, another specialty of Toulouse.
Violets are used to make candy which is sold in most tourist shops around Toulouse.

Where to eat

The areas around Place du Capitole, Bvd de Strasbourg and Place St Georges are lined with cafes and restaurants. The restaurants generally open for dinner around 7 pm.

• Le Délicatessen

  phone: +33 5 61 62 49 00
  address: 11 Rue Riquet
  Busy tapas bar with friendly atmosphere that offers meals, beers on tap and a real happy hour; tapas here are tasty, cheap and generous. It's a popular place so it's better to get there a little earlier in the evening.

• Les Halles Victor Hugo

  address: Place Victor Hugo
  The ground floor is a big food market, stalls close by 1 pm. Upstairs are five little restaurants which take orders till 2.30 pm: Au Bon Graillou, Chez Attila, L'Imperiale, Le Louchebem & Le Magret. No booking, and popular with market shoppers & stall-holders so you may have to wait for a table.

• Genty Magre

  phone: +33 5 61 21 38 60
  address: 3 rue Gentymagre
  Set menu is good value at 40 euros, plus 15 euros to sample 3 wines.

• Violet liquoris sold in most tourist shops and sometimes at the train station.

Opening hours in Toulouse are generally Mon-Sat 9AM-1PM and 3PM-7PM, but there are numerous exceptions. Do note that shops, other than restaurants, do not open on Sundays (most likely by law).

• 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.

• Violetsare turned into any and all items for gifts, soap, perfume, candy, etc.

Hostels

• Auberge In Toulouse

  phone: +33 561 266 625
  address: 1 impasse du professeur Nougayrol
  A small hostel outside of the city (5-7 minute Metro ride) run by a nice young couple who live on the premises. Very clean, very comfortable, featuring beds with real blankets.

• La Petite Auberge de Saint Sernin

  address: 17 rue d'Embarthe
  A hostel located in an interesting part of the city. Not much of a common area, but each room has an open kitchen and lounge area.

Hotels

• Citadines Wilson Toulouse

  phone: +33 5 34 41 75 00
  address: 8, boulevard de Strasbourg
  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.

• Hotel Le Grand Balcon

  phone: +33 5 34 25 44 09
  address: 8-10 rue Romiguières
  Built in the 19th century, re-opened in 2008 with a 1930s stylish make-over commemorating aviation in the city: St-Exupery being one famous guest.

• Hotel Novotel Toulouse Centre Wilson

  phone: +33 56110 7070
  address: 15 Place President Wilson

• Hotel le Clocher de Rodez

  address: 15 Place Jeanne d'Arc
  Hotel is an 18th century building. As one of Toulouse's historic hotels, the building has sheltered numerous artists and musicians.

• Best Western Hotel Athénée Toulouse

  phone: +33 5 61 63 10 63
  address: 13bis rue Matabiau
  Standard reliable chain hotel.

• Hôtel Saint Claire

  phone: +33 5 34 40 58 88
  address: 29 place Nicolas Bachelier
  Small and stylish hotel, centrally located, with a blend of modern and classic design.
• Hotel Novotel Toulouse Purpan Aeroport is about 3 km from the airport, and there is a shuttle bus. Has decent, standard Novotel rooms.

Consulates

• Canada

  phone: +33 5 61 52 19 06
  address: 10 rue Jules de Resseguier

• Portugal

  phone: +33 5 6180 4345
  address: 33 Avenue Camille Pujol
• The UK Consulate in Toulouse has closed. Call the British Embassy in Paris on +33 (0)1 44 51 31 00.

• United States

  phone: +33 5 3441 3650
  address: 25, allées Jean Jaurès

Local media

• The main local TV channel is TV Sud. The city's own channel TLT folded in 2015.
• Intramuros is a free weekly local newspaper covering local film, theatre, concerts and other events.
• The local edition of the newspaper La Dépêche du Midi is available in print and online.

An easy day-trip is to Albi, childhood home of Toulouse-Lautrec. His ancestral home now houses a gallery of his work.
It's a simple day-trip to Carcassonne, but you really ought to stay overnight in its fantastical citadel, which directly inspired Disney Castle.
Following the river downstream or its parallel canal leads you via Montauban, Moissac and Agen to Bordeaux. Branching north at Montauban leads to the picturesque town of Puy l'Eveque on the River Lot.
There's a very scenic train route from Toulouse through the Pyrenees to Barcelona. From Toulouse main station take the local train via Vernet d'Ariège to Foix (75 mins, every couple of hours.) Several trains continue for another 75 mins to L'Hospitalet-pres-L'Andorra (the closest railway station to Andorra) and Latour-de-Carol / Entveig on the Spanish border (3 hours altogether). Latour is an oddity: it's in France sandwiched between two tracts of Spain: the Spanish exclave of Llivia is just north. And it's a station with three different railway gauges: European (SNCF) standard, Spanish (Renfe) standard, and the metre-gauge "Little Yellow Train". The Spanish trains run south to Barcelona Sants 5 times a day, 3 hours. (They're classed as suburban trains so they're not on mainline timetables. Search on Renfe Cercanias for Barcelona, and use the Spanish name "La Tour de Querol".) The Little Yellow Train is a tourist train that climbs over the mountains to Villefranche-de-Conflent (3 hours, with connections onward to Perpignan). It runs twice every day throughout the year. Finding online timetables is difficut, try the Cerdagne region website.