Toulouse

Toulouse is located on the banks of the River Garonne, in south western France, half way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

Tourists visiting Toulouse will enjoy the character and charm of the many historic buildings within the Vieux Quarter. Many visitors choose to start their sightseeing by taking a relaxing cruise along the Canal du Midi and the River Garonne. These cruises are great and allow you to take in what this beautiful city has to offer. Many of the main sights and landmarks lie around the Place du Capitole, the cities main public square. La Capitole is the city hall and is pretty much to Toulouse what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris.

Garonne_River_Toulouse

If you love museums then Toulouse has a large selection, some of the most popular are the Musee Labit, the Musee St Raymond, Paul Depuy Museum and also Museum de Toulouse which is the first natural history museum in Europe to open a gallery on prehistoric times, and its collection is surprisingly large. All of these house various collections and provide information about different aspects of the cities past.

When it comes to dinning out Toulouse really does have it all. There is something to satisfy every taste. If you are feeling peckish at any time of the day then the tea rooms will satisfy most peoples hunger. For those who like seafood the famous Brasserie des Beaux-Arts on the banks of the Garonne is a must. If you prefer meat dishes then try Bistrot Le Van Gogh. Toulouse is definitely not a place to head to if you wish to shed a few pounds, who would want to when you can enjoy meaty cassoulets, luxurious foie gras, duck and the famous Toulouse sausage.

If you love shopping then the covered markets at Place Victor Hugo are definitely worth a visit. The Marche Cristal and the Place-Saint Aubin are also two very popular markets worth visiting. For those of you more serious about your shopping then head to the Rue de Rome which is the main shopping street in Toulouse. Here you’ll find a wealth of shoe shops and department stores, with the odd designer boutique, second-hand jewellery shops and intriguing little kitsch stores thrown in. Other great places to shop are Fnac Micro, Paris Store, Carrefour Toulouse Purpan, Espace Sainte-Georges and Marche Plus.

At night Toulouse has a buzzing vibrant bar scene with a place to quench your thirst around every corner. With Toulouse being a University City it has a massive student population which has helped contribute to the high number of bars springing up all over. Whatever mood you’re in you’ll probably find what you are looking for in Toulouse, with a wide choice of themed bars, late night underground nightclubs and relaxed Jazz clubs. Make sure before you leave Toulouse to take a look at the night sky from Jolimont Observatory, which is located at the top of Jolimont Hill. The Observatory was built in 1846 and is surrounded by beautiful gardens. It’s well worth a visit.

Canal_du_midi_Toulouse