'The Pink City' Toulouse,France

Formerly the capital city of Languedoc, Toulouse has a history going back to the year 100 as a Roman colony. Its position halfway between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea has placed in at the centre of many wars and conflicts since that time. Its eyes are firmly on the future however, as Toulouse is now an epicentre of the European aerospace industry and home to one of the largest universities in France.



Toulouse is known as The Pink City due to its pseudo-Roman face brick buildings, which also contribute to its reputation as one of the most beautiful cities in France. It has many historic bridges, hotels, cathedrals and museums that are worth exploring in the downtown area, which is easily traversed on foot. The grand facades are interspersed with restaurants, cafes, shops and pubs that give the city a pleasant, bustling atmosphere, and a number of parks and green spaces to maintain tranquillity.



Its location near the centre of France makes Toulouse an ideal stop on any tour of the country; it is only an hour or two away from the vineyards of Bordeaux, the medieval city of Carcassonne, and even Donostia-San Sebastian in Spain. It is a popular stop on driving tours of the country, and a visit to Toulouse is a wonderful part of any holiday in France.

Toulouse Attractions The soft rose-coloured bricks that give Toulouse its nickname, 'The Pink City', belong to beautiful historic buildings that make up the town centre. The Capitole building is the star attraction, with both municipal offices and the Théâtre National du Capitole housed within; while the 11-century St Sernin Basilica is among the largest in the world. Other beautiful buildings worth visiting include the Hôtel d'Assézat, the Musée des Augustins, and Les Jacobins Monastery, which houses relics of Thomas Aquinas. Toulouse's attractions are not limited to the historical, however, as the Cite De L'espace theme park celebrates the city's large aerospace industry with flight-themed interactive exhibits and a huge planetarium. This amusement park cum educative museum will enthrall children and adults alike. Boat trips are a great way to relax and take in the sights of Toulouse, and are conducted along the Garonne River. Pretty parks like the Japanese gardens also offer places to sit and relax or run around and play in, depending on your age and energy levels. There are many parks and green spaces in Toulouse which adds to the aesthetic appeal of the city. Cite De L'espace This theme park in Toulouse has its head firmly in the clouds, dedicating its 8.6 acres (3.5 hectares) to celebrating flight and outer space. Children will love exploring full-scale models of rockets and space stations, and teens will enjoy the feeling of anti-gravity in...  see full details St Sernin Basilica Of the many beautiful buildings in Toulouse, the St Sernin Basilica is one that should not be missed. The church, built from the area's distinctive rose-coloured bricks, is the largest Romanesque church in Europe and contains many beautiful frescoes and sculptures. The Basilica was...  see full details Albi While Toulouse is known as the 'pink city' for its facebrick buildings, Albi is often called the 'red city' due to the spectacular crimson hue of the buildings at sunset. With a skyline dominated by the magnificent Cathédrale Ste-Cécile, there is plenty to see...  see full details