What to do for a Weekend in Toulouse
WHAT TO DO FOR A WEEKEND IN TOULOUSE ?
Built around the Garonne River, Toulouse is maybe one of the most famous cities of Southern France and the big regional capital city of Occitania. Toulouse, known as one of the best French southern cities for its quality of life. Toulouse is also a place full of history, art and flavours, and one of its best ambassadors was the singer Claude Nougaro! Toulouse is a city with so many faces: young, cultural, technologic, bold, industrial, animated by its student life... Discover all its charms step by step in one weekend!
TOULOUSE, THE PINK CITY… ?
Usually nicknamed the "Pink City" thanks to its numerous façades made of bricks, Toulouse only got that name given around 1910. In that time, the idea was to change the image of a city considered to be too much industrial and not so beautiful, and many places used to be covered of white painting or just turned grey because of the "pollution". Obviously since then, many things have been changing. Known for its brick façade buildings, Toulouse is also turned toward Arts and Crafts and the Gastronomy! Just like so many people in before, come let you seduce by this place and try to tam it !
THE CAPITOLE
Perhaps one of the most emblematic buildings of Toulouse. Since the 12th century this place incarnates the political power of the city. Now it is both City Hall and Great Theatre. Many people believe the name of Capitole is coming from the biggest roman temple of Tolosa (roman city), but actually not. From the Middle Ages until the end of French Revolution, 8 men used to rule and manage the city. They were called the capitouls and used to gather in a place that is nowadays wearing their name : The Capitole. The today's building was totally restored during the 18th century and is façade is a mix of brick and cut limestone decorated with 8 columns as a reference to the 8 capitouls. Today you may enter in the building by the Henri the 4th courtyard, in which one you may notice the name and coat of arms of the most important capitouls. Then ascend a majestic staircase decorated with wall painting illustrating the main passages of Toulouse City History. Passing through the "Lost Steps Waiting Room", reach the "Famous ones Hall". It is the main and most impressive room of hall the town hall, were they do celebrate weddings and deliberations under the sight of beautiful statues and paintings of the most important Toulouse historic characters.
THE CAPITOLE SQUARE
Toulouse, as many cities of France, has its main square in the centre. From there, you can reach any large boulevard or avenue and obviously the Garonne river banks. This square is not only the main one of the city, all the major events happen in here and it is animated as well by a weekly market. As seen upon, many people believe that the Capitole building and square took their name from a Roman Temple... Actually not ! The Roman Temple was on the Esquirol (squirrel) Square. During the 1970, some archaeological excavations put on light the presence of a Roman wall and an entrance gate in Tolosa. It was mostly during the 18th and 19th century the square developed to become what it is nowadays. On the ground of the square, artist Raymond Moretti did create a huge Languedoc Cross decorated by the Zodiac signs. He also painted 29 ceilings of the covered passage, each of them depicting a strong moment of Toulouse History.
ST SERNIN
Sernin is a strange name isn't it? Sernin is the contraction of the name Saturnin, the martyr saint of Toulouse. The legend tells that because he refused to make a sacrifice to the Emperor, he was fastened to a bull that dragged him along the streets. The bull dragged him from the Capitole Roman temple until the actual Taur street where his head detached of his body. He was buried in a place out of the city, in a necropolis. Nowadays, a basilica is now built and dedicated to Saturnin. The basilica started to be built in the 11th century, and it became an important pilgrimage centre. You may observe a lot of treasures: remains of medieval wall paintings, the golden objects preserved from the Middle Ages, or the crypt were the Saint was buried. At the entrance, a majestic Romanesque lintel decorates that impressive church. The brick bell tower and its mitre windows are very characteristic of Toulouse Region. One of the most beautiful buildings to visit when you visit Toulouse.
THE "JACOBINS" CHURCH
In the centre of Toulouse, this massive brick church is still one of the most visited into the "pink city". This medieval building is renowned for its two identical naves when a "standard one" used to have three. Another particularity is a palm tree like column located on the church choir. Famous in Toulouse, these particularities are sometimes present in other Dominican churches. If you come to visit Toulouse, you mustn't miss it!! Situated not so far from the Capitol square, the Jacobin church was the first one to be built under the commandment of Dominic Guzman, better known as Saint Dominic, in the 13th century. Totally ended during the 14th century, this convent was already famous for its cloister and the charm of its church. Made of marble and bricks, the cloister is the jewel of the whole architectonic complex. The cloister's ceiling is maintained by 160 marbles column and typically represents the Eden Garden. Such as St Sernin, the bell tower of the Jacobins is made of bricks and present mitre shape windows (bishop hat shape). This form of window is a particularity of the Toulouse meridional architecture. Closed in 1789, the church only re opens in 1810. In this time, the building is used by the French Army. Divided in two floors, the church ground floor is where they'd stock the gun powder, fire guns and bullets. The first floor was the soldiers' dormitory, while some chapels were converted into stables or nurseries. The restoration work only started in the 2nd half of the 20th century.
THE GARONNE RIVER BANKS
The source of this long river (405 miles) is actually in Spain. The Garonne passes through Toulouse before it reaches the Gironde estuary and flows in the Atlantic Ocean. At the sunny days, there's nothing better than having a stroll on the Garonne riversides. It is the best place to enjoy the sun, meet new people, have drink... The students, the citizens, the parents with their children, everyone likes this place and wants to enjoy it. Take also a chance to admire the Daurade (golden) church, the Fines Art School or the Ancient Hospital from the River banks. If you want to discover Toulouse in another way, why do not you take a trip in a barge? Do not forget your camera!
LE CANAL DU MIDI
This famous Canal starts in Toulouse and is 150 miles long. In Toulouse, many people, enjoy the presence of this water way to go on strolling, walking, or even a picnic. The best way to discover it is to take a trip on a barge sailing the canal. For the ones who like challenges and ride until Castelnaudary, Carcassonne, Béziers, Agde or Sète. If you want to visit something uncommon, you can discover the Georges Labit Museum dedicated to Egyptian and Asian Art and Crafts. Created at the end of the 17th century, this long and unusual water way was thought by a man called Pierre Paul Riquet. Beginning in Toulouse, the canal finishes in the Thau lagoon and is finally brought to the Mediterranean Sea thanks to the many canals of The Languedoc Venice: Sète. Even if he was born and raised in Béziers, Pierre Paul Riquet lived a great part of his life in Toulouse and its surrounds and was buried in Toulouse, St Steven Cathedral.
THE BAMBERG FOUNDATION
A jewel of the Toulouse Renaissance architecture is indisputably the Assezat private mansion. The Assezat Family started to be famous thanks to Pierre d'Assezat who was an excellent merchant and pastel trader who finished by being elected as a capitoul of Toulouse. Proud of his life, social ascension and richness he made built and decorate his house to have one of the most impressive of Toulouse. Today people can still admire the sumptuous courtyard, balconies and windows, and once again enjoy the mix of bricks and cut stones. This 16th century house, became 3 centuries later the centre of Arts and Crafts Academy. In 1994 the argentine philanthropist George Bamberg decide to create an eponymous Art Foundation. The Art lover decided to lend to Toulouse a part of its collections for 99 years. It is around 1100 paintings, sculptures, you can admire by walking inside of the ancient private mansion.
MEDICINE MUSEUM
Inside of the Hôtel Saint Jacques, an ancient hospital, a museum dedicated to medicine was installed. There, discover the greats names of the medicine in Toulouse, and many items and tools used by the doctors. To dive you much more in the medical past in Toulouse, the offices of doctors with their tools and objects transport you much more in the past and make you live an unforgettable experience.
TOULOUSE GASTRONOMY AND FLAVOURS
Toulouse is located in the Southern- West France, a part of the country that’s famous for its gastronomy. The best way to smell all the flavours and discover the gastronomy it is to visit the covered market or the Carmes market The best place to discover all these local products: prunes, almonds, walnuts, garlic, onions, asparaguses, mushrooms, duck meat and poultry and so much more… In the traditional dishes you may taste the Toulouse Sausage, the duck dishes, goose meat, quail with prunes or the Gascony beef among so many other… Actually, you may not leave Toulouse without tasting their version of the famous “Cassoulet” or the duck breast filet! You can eat these specialties in the traditional restaurants in Toulouse or even directly the covered market.
MODERN TOULOUSE
Even old of 2000 years, Toulouse never stops to go on and re-invent itself every time. Thanks to its long history Toulouse can offer many discoveries to whom likes the past and the History, but if you want some modernity or looking for more Technology, this city is for you. Thanks to Airbus industry, Toulouse is now turned toward modernity, but not only thanks to that. The Universities and great schools also bring a lot of youth and a student life to the city, the Space City is perfect to discover space and the evolution of astronomic conquest. For the lovers of Modern Art, many little Galleries or the Slaughterhouse Museum (Le Musée des Abattoirs) is a way to discover new artists and discover something different from the traditional museum. To sum up, a city with a vibrating life.
THE ABATTOIRS MUSEUM
Well, even if the name is not the most pleasing, it is nowadays one of the most important and interesting museums in Toulouse. Along the 19th and 20th centuries all the slaughterhouses used to be gathered on the left bank of the Garonne river. When the whole complex of buildings closed in 1998, it was unoccupied for 2 years before the reopening in 2000 as a modern and contemporary art museum. Many names of the Modern Art are reunited in this place: Victor Vasarely, Antoni Tapiès are two of the many one exhibited in here. The contemporary art found also grows as time goes by and also presents international exhibitions as Picasso and the time of exile from February to June 2019.
AERONAUTIC TOULOUSE
In Toulouse, the aeronautic industry is one of the major things. Thanks to Airbus and all its factories, Toulouse could evolve and became a very modern place. Actually, aeronautics did not start only with Airbus. Clement Ader, considered to be the first French man flying in a machine did it in the surrounds of Toulouse, with a structure which engine was heavier than the air. By visiting Airbus Museum, discover how the Concorde or the “Caravelle” were produced in the 50’s and the 60’s, and even visit a king size model of a Concorde plain. Something interesting is to have the chance to visit the part of the factories where they do build the A380 and A380 plains.
THE SPACE CITY
Take a visit in the Space City is to leave far away from everything you know. It is a good place to go in family or friends to discover or know much more about the cosmos, the stars, the planets. The different rooms of the museums or the complex teach more about the space conquest, the astronomic discoveries and all the secrets of the planets and solar system. Many exhibitions also help to better understand how planets were created, how do the astronauts communicate or they do live in their mission in space. During your visit you can walk “through” the solar system, touch moon rocks or discover videos of Mars planets. An excellent place to learn much more about the Cosmos mysteries !
Here were some ideas to discover a little bit of Toulouse, but obviously there is so much more to discover!!
Day tour: Ancient and modern Toulouse
Day tour: Aeronautic Toulouse
3-day travel: Historic and Contemporary
5-day travel:The essential Albi and Toulouse
5-day travel: The land of Plenty
10-day travel and cruise Cruises in Gascony and Pre tour in Toulouse
7-day travelFollowing the steps of the Pilgrims
Here were some ideas to discover a little bit of Toulouse, but obviously there is so much more to discover!!
See more pictures of Toulouse
Our Travels to Toulouse
Day tour: Ancient and modern Toulouse
Day tour: Aeronautic Toulouse
3-day travel: Historic and Contemporary
5-day travel:The essential Albi and Toulouse
5-day travel: The land of Plenty
10-day travel and cruise Cruises in Gascony and Pre tour in Toulouse
7-day travelFollowing the steps of the Pilgrims