Toulouse may not get as much attention as other cities in France, like Paris or Marseille. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth a visit! We spent a few days in Toulouse during our European road trip in January, and we found that there were lots of things to do — and eat — in Toulouse. Plus, the city itself is gorgeous. Did you know its nickname is “La Ville Rose,” or the pink city?
From art and architecture, to greenspace, to feats of engineering, here are 7 things to do in Toulouse.
1. Visit the Place du Capitol
I put this first on the list, and maybe it’s because it was the first real “sight” we saw when we arrived in Toulouse. But really, you shouldn’t miss it. The building, which is actually the city’s town hall, boasts the quintessential pink bricks, underscoring just how seriously Toulouse takes the whole “pink city” thing. Outside the capitole, you’ll find a large public plaza that is home to pop-up markets and restaurants around the perimeter, where customers eat, drink, and people-watch. Whether it’s day or night, Place du Capitole is buzzing.
2. See the Iconic Basilica Saint-Sernin
There’s no denying that the Basilica of Saint-Sernin is one of Toulouse’s most iconic sights. It’s even a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for being one of the best examples of Romanesque architecture in the world. Whether you decide to go inside or just admire the outside, you can’t miss the chance to see the unique Romanesque-Gothic bell tower. If you do want to go inside, entrance to the church itself is free, but it does cost if you want to go to the crypt or the tomb of Saint Sernin.
3. Check out the Canal du Midi
When we were in Toulouse, our hotel was close to the Canal du Midi, and we thought the canal was cool. We purposefully ate dinner at a restaurant along the canal on our last night, just for the sake of it. But I didn’t learn until we got home just HOW cool the Canal du Midi is!
That’s because it’s not just any canal — Canal du Midi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most impressive engineering accomplishments from the 17th century. Back in the mid-1600s, the canal was designed to connect the Mediterranean Sea, on the southeast coast of France, to the Atlantic Ocean, on the southwest coast. So over the course of about 30 years, they built the 150-mile (240 km) canal from just south of Marseille to Toulouse. In Toulouse, the canal meets up with the River Garonne, completing the waterway from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic.
4. Find Your Zen at the Japanese Garden
I didn’t necessarily expect to find a Japanese garden in Toulouse, but I’m glad we did! Located inside the Jardin Compans Caffarelli, which is near the business district, the Jardin Japonais Pierre Baudis (Japanese Garden) is a cute distraction from everyday life. With a picturesque red bridge, a tea pavilion, a pond full of koi, and a Japanese dry garden, you’ll forget you’re in France.
5. Explore the Toulouse Space Center
A quick disclaimer: As we were driving into Toulouse in our rental car, we saw signs for the space center… but we didn’t actually go! At the time, I didn’t realize how big of a deal the Cité de l’Espace actually is. Like the fact that Toulouse is the center of the European airspace industry. And Toulouse is home to 25% of the European Space Workforce. Who knew?!
Since the space center is on the outskirts of the city, you may need to take the bus/metro to get there if you don’t have a car. (The world’s best travel app, Citymapper, is in Toulouse, so use that to your advantage!) And if you end up visiting, please stop back here and let me know how it is!
6. Discover Your New Favorite Artist at Les Abattoirs Art Museum
Of course, many cities around the world have some sort of art museum. Matt isn’t a huge art museum guy, so we don’t always go. But at the recommendation of the hotel concierge, we decided to check out Les Abattoirs modern/contemporary art museum. The brochure showed a colorful exhibit that looked fresh and interesting.
I am SO glad we decided to go to the art museum in Toulouse! If we hadn’t, then I would have missed out on finding my new favorite artist, the French-American Niki de Saint Phalle. I loved her illustrated diary entries, her paintings about racism/gun control/abortion from the early 2000s that seem just as relevant today, and her larger-than-life, colorful sculptures. Unfortunately, the exhibit was only at Les Abattoirs temporarily and left at the beginning of this month. But it seems like the museum has great taste — so I’m sure you’ll find something you enjoy if you visit!
7. Say Hello to the Chickens at Jardin des Plantes
Did you happen to watch the men’s World Cup final between Argentina and France this past December? If so, or if you follow international soccer/football, you may have noticed something unique about France’s national team crest: it showcases a chicken. Well, actually, it’s the “Gallic rooster,” which is a symbol of France.
So it just felt right as we walked through the Jardin des Plantes in Toulouse and were serenaded by crowds of roosters crowing. There were so many of them! And they weren’t shy at all. So many of them had beautiful feathers, and well… I just had a really good time watching them. 🙂
There you have it… my seven recommendations of things to do in Toulouse. Do you have any questions or disagree with anything on my list? Let me know in the comments!
-Cathy
This site contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you.
Originally Published on March 18, 2023.
Leave a Reply