Toulouse, France Travel Guide - Sightseeing, Hotel, Restaurant & Shopping Highlights (Illustrated)

Toulouse (pronounced tu-luz) is a city in the southwest of France, almost halfway between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Toulouse is an important part of the European and world economy as it is a center of the aviation and space industry. It has major offices of Airbus, European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS), and the Galileo Navigation Satellite System. Toulouse also has a rich history in architecture and education.

The city has modernized in the last 3 decades under the leadership of the Baudis – the father-son duo who occupied the seat of the Mayor from 1983 to 2001. Today Toulouse is not only a major corporate zone, but also a favorite tourist destination.

The Pink City in daytime and the City of Lights at night, Toulouse grew up in the banks of the river Garonne. Earliest records trace to Roman settlements in that area. In fact the brick architecture that is so predominant in the city is a reflection of the Roman past. The brick buildings look pinkish in the sunlight, thus giving the city its nickname the Ville Rose – Pink City. In fact, if one looks at a satellite picture of Toulouse in daytime, it looks like a pink patch on the banks of the Garonne. The city is also called the City of Lights because of the innumerable illuminated sights at night.

The city, fourth largest in France, after Paris, Lyon, and Marseille, in terms of population, is rich in Gothic, Roman, and Renaissance architecture.

Table of Contents:

Introduction to Toulouse
Overview
Culture
Location & Orientation
Climate & When to Visit
Sightseeing Highlights
Place du Capitole
Basilica St Sernin
Canal du Midi
Cite de l’Espace (Science Museum)
Saint Etienne Cathedral
Airbus Factory Visit
Musee des Augustins
Musee Saint Raymond
Hotel d’Assezat
Pont Neuf
Recommendations for the Budget Traveler
Places to Stay
Hotel Saint Severin
Royal Wilson Hotel
Hotel du Taur
Hotel Albert 1er (1st)
Hotel Excelsior
Places to Eat & Drink
L’Entrepotes
Bapz Bakery and Tea Room
La Petit Rajasthan
Emile Restaurant
Soup ‘Here
Places to Shop
Espace Graine de pastel
La Maison de la Violette
Marche des Carmes
Nicolas Tourel
Midica