Elegantly set at the confluence of the Canal du Midi and the River Garonne, this vibrant southern city – nicknamed la ville rose (the pink city) after the distinctive hot-pink stone used in many buildings – is one of France's liveliest metropolises. Busy, buzzy and bustling with students, this riverside dame has a history stretching back over 2000 years and has been a hub for the aerospace industry since the 1930s. With a thriving cafe and cultural scene, a wealth of impressive hôtels particuliers and an enormously atmospheric old quarter, France's fourth-largest city is one place you'll love to linger.
Place du CapitoleSQUARE
(place du Capitole)
Toulouse's magnificent main square is the city's literal and metaphorical heart, where Toulousains turn out en masse on sunny evenings to sip a coffee or an early aperitif at a pavement cafe. On the eastern side is the 128m-long facade of the Capitole, the city hall, built in the 1750s. Inside is the Théâtre du Capitole, one of France's most prestigious opera venues, and the over-the-top, late-19th-century Salle des Illustres (Hall of the Illustrious).
To the south of the square is the city's Vieux Quartier (Old Quarter), a tangle of lanes and leafy squares brimming with cafes, shops and eateries.
Cité de l’EspaceMUSEUM
This fantastic space museum on the city's eastern outskirts explores Toulouse's interstellar industry. The hands-on exhibits include a shuttle simulator, planetarium, 3D cinema and simulated observatory, plus full-scale replicas of iconic spacecraft including the Mir Space Station and a 53m-high Ariane 5 space rocket. Multilingual audioguides allow you to explore at your own pace. To get there, catch bus 15 from allée Jean Jaurès to the last stop, from where it's a 500m walk.
Basilique St-SerninCHURCH
With its soaring spire and unusual octagonal tower, this red-brick basilica is one of France's best-preserved Romanesque structures. Inside, the soaring nave and delicate pillars harbour the tomb of St Sernin, sheltered beneath a sumptuous canopy. The basilica was once an important stop on the Chemin de St-Jacques pilgrimage route.
Musée des AugustinsMUSEUM
Like most big French cities, Toulouse has a fabulous fine arts museum. Located within a former Augustinian monastery, it spans the centuries from the Roman era through to the early 20th century. The highlights are the French rooms, with Delacroix, Ingres and Courbet representing the 18th and 19th centuries, and works by Toulouse-Lautrec and Monet among the standouts from the 20th-century collection. Don't miss the 14th-century cloister gardens. The entrance is on rue de Metz.
Airbus Factory ToursTOUR
Hardcore plane-spotters can arrange a guided tour of Toulouse's massive JL Lagardère Airbus factory, 10km west of the city in Colomiers. The main factory tour includes a visit to the A380 production line; there's also a longer 'Panoramic Tour', which takes in other sections of the 700-hectare site via bus. All tours must be booked in advance online or by phone, and non-EU visitors have to book at least two days ahead. Remember to bring a passport or photo ID.
AIR
Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (www.toulouse.aeroport.fr/en), 8km northwest of the centre, has frequent domestic and European flights. A Navette Aéroport Flybus (Airport Shuttle; %05 61 41 70 70; www.tisseo.fr) links it with town.
TRAIN
Gare Matabiau 1km northeast of the centre, is served by frequent TGVs to Bordeaux (€22 to €29, two hours) and east to Carcassonne (€14, 45 minutes to one hour).
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