Known as La Ville en Rose (“the pink city”), zany Toulouse is the place to go when all French cities begin to look alike. During the school year, 110,000 scholars fill the cafés and brasseriesin the narrow streets where Thomas Aquinas once discussed Aristotle with fellow theologians. At the heart of centre ville sits the massive Capitole building, whose eight grand columns symbolize the eight headstrong town capitouls (councilors) who defied counts and kings to govern the city until the Revolution. An abundance of museums and concert halls makes France's fourth-largest city the region's cultural capital, with family-owned art galleries, indepenent theaters, and a diverse music scene to support the city's free-thinking tradition. Whether it's the Garrone River or the flourishing arts scene that makes your heart pound, it's hard not to fall in love with Toulouse.
Aéroport Toulouse-Blagnac is outside of the city. (☎ 08 25 38 00 00) Flybus runs a navette, or airport shuttle, directly from the Gare Routière. There are shuttle stops at Pl. Jean Jaurès ...more
While residential Toulouse sprawls along both sides of the Garonne River, the thriving centre ville occupies a manageable area east of the river bounded by Rue de Metz to the south, Bld. de Strasbourg ...more
On the whole, accommodations in Toulouse tend to be somewhat pricey. Thankfully, there are a handful of excellent options close that are only a 10-20min. walk from the action in the centre ville. Your ...more
For food that pleases your stomach and your budget, head directly to Rue du Taur, where cheap eateries serve plats at €5-10. On Tuesdays and Saturdays, Pl. du Capitole becomes an open-air market, selling ...more
Walking or biking in Toulouse's vibrant centre ville is the best way to get around, and exploration never goes unrewarded, since La Ville en Rose has stunning cathedral architecture and fine arts museums ...more
Toulouse always has something going on, though things are calmer in the summer months when the university isn't in session. Thankfully, you can always make a bee-line for Pl. St. Pierre for a raucous party ...more
La Cave Poésie, 71 Rue du Taur (☎ 05 61 23 62 00; www.cave-poesie.com), La Cave Poésie is located in one of the old city's hundreds of 9 caves, which was excavated and transformed into an extraodinary ...more
When Castres (kah-struh) acquired the bones of St-Vincent, the city became an essential pilgrimage stop for those en route to Santiago de Compostela. This prominence ended when the basilica was destroyed ...more
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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