Tour
6,5 km
2h40
24 audios
Text version
When one thinks of Toulouse, words like conviviality, hospitality and warmth come to mind. So you’ve guessed it, Toulousians are a friendly bunch, and you’re sure to have a great time there! But there’s more: Toulouse is a city boasting a rich historical heritage, unfolding as you stroll through its pink-bricked streets. The former Visigoth capital, marked by 6 centuries of Capitoul rule, is now the 4th largest city in France, and a student favorite! Whether you know it as the pink city, the city of violets, the queen of rugby, the capital of cassoulet or aeronautics, Toulouse has it all! We now invite you to soak up its vibrant spirit, stroll along the Garonne and discover its exceptional past!
Let's take a moment to explore the beautiful Trinity Square with its lovely fountain. Built on top of the now-defunct Trinitairian convent, the square is lined with café terraces and is one of the city's most charming spots. Read more
You get so used to the whole city being pink that you're genuinely surprised when you see a white facade! Hôtel de Bagis, also known as Hôtel de Clary or Hôtel Daguin, is in fact the city's only monument built entirely of stone. Read more
There's nothing really special to see here, but allow me to tell you a little story: the street to your right, rue Maletache, was the starting point of the great fire of 1463, which devoured three-quarters of the city. Read more
Everyone loves Saint-Georges square! It's always bustling with life, with its busy cafés during the summer. Read more
You're standing in front of Saint-Étienne Cathedral, one of the most iconic monuments in Toulouse! Read more
Here’s a pro tip: if you're looking for a breathtaking panoramic view of Toulouse, you can ascend to the top floor of the Galeries Lafayette! Read more
This is perhaps the busiest spot in Toulouse; there's a subway station, stores, cinemas, restaurants and shopping streets all around. This is President Wilson Square. Read more
Just behind the Capitole, you'll notice a tower that seems to have appeared out of nowhere, in stark contrast to the overall architecture of the square. Read more
You're in the largest square in Toulouse, where some of the biggest events in all of France take place! It was cleared of the buildings formerly occupying it when the present-day capitole façade was built in the middle of the 18th century. Read more
You’ve reached Saint-Pierre Square, where you'll get to dive into the city's lively student scene! The city is home to over 130,000 students! Here, plenty of bars and cafés stay open late into the evening; terraces are jam-packed, buzzing with chatter and laughter. Read more
In past centuries, if you came to stand on this side of the Garonne, you were on the wrong side of history. This neighborhood housed the sick, the exiled and the plague-stricken. As always, time has worked its magic and today you find yourself on the cosmopolitan side of the Saint-Cyprien district. Read more
You're now on the Pont-Neuf, paradoxically the oldest bridge built over the Garonne! The single arch you see in front of you, next to the Hôtel-Dieu, is all that remains of the old bridge that once stood here. Read more
The Hôtel-Dieu Saint-Jacques on your left is the city's most important landmark! It traces its history back to 1130, when the Daurade Priory established a hospital foundation on the outskirts of Saint-Cyprien, on the left bank, affiliated to the monastery by the now-defunct Daurade bridge. Read more
As you walk past the Occitan center for traditional music and dance of Toulouse, you'll catch sight of a beautifully painted wall depicting a young masked woman with long red hair. Seated amidst a number of expressive masks, she is choosing the one that suits her best. Read more
As you'd expect, we've come here to see the colorful tympanum of Notre-Dame de la Dalbade. This ceramic fresco dates back to 1878. It is the work of artist Gaston Virebent, inspired by the Coronation of the Virgin by the Italian painter Fra Angelico. Read more
Time to look up, literally, and relive the history of Toulouse! The Arcades gallery, created in 1997 during construction works on the Capitole square, features 29 paintings and as many scenes recounting the city's history. Read more
You're now in front of the church of Notre-Dame du Taur. It dates back to the 3rd century and it was built on the exact spot where the body of Martyr Saint Sernin was found. Read more
You've reached the famous Basilica of Saint-Sernin. It's quite impressive, and for good reason! It's in fact the largest Romanesque church in France! To give you an idea, the nave stretches the length of a soccer field, and you could easily fit a 7-storey building under the vault! Read more
You're about to enter the very heart of a spectacular monumental complex! The Jacobins convent consists of a church, a cloister, a chapter house, a refectory and Saint-Antonin's chapel. Read more
You must have heard of woad, the blue plant which, when crushed, can be used to dye textiles a beautiful pastel-blue color. Think of it as the blue gold! It made its mark in the Renaissance, adorning the kings of France. Read more
The beautiful, opulent façade before you is that of Toulouse's School of Fine Arts. It was one of the first artistic establishments in the Occitania region. The school succeeded to the Royal Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, founded by Louis the 15th in 1750 and dissolved after the Revolution, like all royal academies in France. Read more
You're now standing in front of the Daurade basilica, with a beautiful panoramic view of the left river bank. The nearby quayside might lead you to believe that the name Daurade must refer to the homonymous fish! Read more
From the quayside, you can enjoy a beautiful panorama on the Saint-Cyprien district on the left river bank. Now's your chance to take your camera and capture the view. Read more
Découvrez Toulouse avec l’application navaway®
An interactive guide through the most beautiful streets, squares, and districts
23 fun audioguides full of historical facts, anecdotes, and legends
Experience an immersion in the world of wine, from the vine to the cellar, with a tasting included!
The pink bricks are a sight, but there’s more to Toulouse than meets the eye. Time to discover its aerospace industry, rugby scene, and fine wines.
While you’re in the city, don’t forget to look up to the stars. If you’re drawn to the mysteries of the universe, think of astronauts as heroes, or if you’re passionate about the history of aviation and the adventures of the famous Aéropostale, there are lots of places to visit!
Visit the Cité de l’Espace, where you’ll get to unlock the secrets of the cosmos, discover the Ariane rocket, the Mars Rovers, or step into the heart of the solar system, under the new-generation planetarium screens. A 2500m² interactive exhibition space, to entertain the young and the young at heart!
Cité de l’espace
Avenue Jean Gonord – BP 25855
31 506 Toulouse CEDEX 5
Tel. 05 67 22 23 24
You can also stop by the Airbus factory in Blagnac, about 10km from the center. You’ll need to book your tickets on the Manatour website, as places are limited. But once inside, you’ll have a front-row seat to a fascinating journey of discovery, standing in one of the world’s largest aircraft manufacturing facilities. It’s a unique opportunity to get an insight into the workings of an aerospace factory.
Allée André-Turcat – 31700 Blagnac
Tel. 05 34 39 42 00
www.manatour.fr
Tram T1 stop Beauzelle-Aeroscopia
Reservation and ID required. Cameras and cell phones are not allowed during visits.
While in the Airbus factory, you can also visit the Aeroscopia aeronautical museum. Spanning over 30,000m², the museum houses a large collection of exceptional aircraft. This is the place to go if you’ve ever wanted to board the Concorde, see a Super Guppy up close, or discover the world’s largest aircraft, the A380.
If history is more your thing, don’t miss a visit to the Toulouse Aerospace district. This innovative and dynamic eco-district is named after the former Aéropostale runway that runs through it. Discover the flight of the pioneers, on the Runway of Giants. You may not know it, but Aéropostale was born in a factory near Toulouse; it was the brainchild of young Pierre-Georges Latécoère. After building two-seaters during the war, he thought he could transform his military planes into mail-carrying aircrafts, and was convinced that it was possible to create a route from France to Latin America via Africa. At the time, no aircraft had covered more than 400 km, let alone crossed a desert, an ocean or flown over the Andes, reaching heights of nearly 7000 meters. Join Mermoz, Saint-Exupéry and Guillaumet on a legendary journey through time, in this 1000m² space.
While on the runway of Giants, you’ll come across another of Toulouse’s flagship activities, in the Halles de la Machine. Inside this 6,000m² contemporary exhibition hall, over 150 machines come to life, celebrating street art, inventiveness and technology. Straight out of the “Machines of the Isle of Nantes” exhibition park, the machines tell their own stories, exhibiting the agility and grace of a giant spider. You can even take an outlandish ride on the back of a Minotaur through the Montaudran district.
On a completely different note, we can’t fail to bring up the region’s rugby culture. Watching a game in Toulouse is a must for rugby fans. Alternatively, you can take a guided tour of Ernest Wallon stadium to discover the history of this century-old site, check out the locker rooms, sit on the dugout, or even try your hand at passing and throwing in line-outs.
While you’re in Toulouse, you can also take the time to explore the Canal du Midi by bike or by boat! This waterway, linking Toulouse to the Mediterranean Sea for over three centuries, was designed by Pierre Paul Riquet, who’s buried in Saint-Étienne Cathedral. You can think of him and thank him as you travel along his canal that he didn’t live to see finished. Today, it’s also an ideal spot for nature walks.
Toulouse is home to a number of vineyards, perfect for wine tastings and cellar visits. Here’s your chance to taste the wines of Haute-Garonne, like Fronton and Comté-tolosan.
When you think of Occitania, your mind wanders almost unwillingly to the picturesque villages dotted around the region. If you have a little extra time after your visit to the Pink City, be sure to explore the surrounding area, and succumb to the charms of medieval villages perched in the heart of nature. Just 80 km from Toulouse, Cordes-sur-Ciel promises to enchant you. It’s arguably one of the region’s gems. Castelnau-de-Montmiral, Bruniquel and Eaunes are just as beautiful, and perfect for day trips. If you’re up to exploring some more, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie or Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges are also great options further afield.
Explore Toulouse further with these enriching and delicious activities.
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Highlights
Beautiful garden
Full of charm and cozy
Delicious cuisine
Attentive service
Location : 34 Bis rue Valade, 31000 Toulouse
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See Our Full Review
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