The Pink City – Toulouse Top Attractions and Best Places to Visit

Toulouse, a cultural capital of both medieval Europe and today’s southern French Occitanie region, is set around the River Garonne. Known as ‘The Pink City’ after the colour of many of its historic buildings, the legacy of its 16th-century golden age is evident in a rich architectural heritage. Monumental Romanesque and Gothic churches dotting the city’s ‘Vieux Quartier’ are complemented by majestic Renaissance mansions and the neoclassical facades of edifices such as the Capitole (City Hall). The 17th-century Canal du Midi promoted trade by linking Toulouse to the Mediterranean Sea and remains a major achievement in construction engineering. Beyond the Old Quarter, Toulouse expands into France’s fourth-largest city. The centre of the nation’s aerospace industry, it is also home to more than 100,000 students heightening its vibrant atmosphere. Add world-class museums, enticing regional culinary specialities and a dynamic nightlife scene and Toulouse is an absolutely must-see destination.

The majority of the grand official and religious buildings in the historical centre of Toulouse were built with the large flat medieval bricks and tiles made from the surrounding area’s abundant reddish-pink clay. The prolific use of these traditional terracotta-coloured building materials earned Toulouse the nickname ‘La Ville Rose’, or ‘The Pink City’.

The historic centre of Toulouse is compact and walkable. At the heart of the Pink City, the expansive Place du Capitole is where to start your visit. The Capitole (City Hall) presides majestically over the city’s main square. Behind its imposing neoclassical facade the building houses opulent ceremonial chambers and the Théâtre du Capitole opera house. Head inside to view the vast and ornate Salle des Illustres adorned by evocative impressionist paintings of scenes from 19th-century Toulouse. Admission is free from Monday to Friday and on Sundays, but the rooms are often closed to the public on Saturdays.

Off the square, take a stroll past the bistros and boutiques along the medieval rue du Taur and you’ll soon see the spire of the Basilique St-Sernin rising up high in the distance. A wonderful example of Romanesque architecture topped by a distinctive octagonal bell tower, this pink-hued church is well preserved despite dating from the 11th century and definitely worth exploring. Don’t miss the relics of numerous saints kept down in the dimly lit vaults of the crypt.

Another of the architectural treasures of the Pink City, Toulouse's Couvent des Jacobins stands amid narrow streets a short walk from the Place du Capitole. A jewel of Southern French Gothic architecture, the distinctive brick-built exterior of this 13th-century church with a seven-storey high, octagonal bell tower is one of the most recognisable in Toulouse. Highlights of its capacious interior include a breathtaking vaulted ceiling with a column resembling a palm tree supporting multiple ribs of the roof above spectacularly high stained-glass windows. Behind the church, savour peaceful moments in the tranquil cloister enclosing a garden with cypress trees.

Of the grand private mansions built by the city’s prosperous merchants during Toulouse’s golden age, the 16th-century Hotel d'Assézat is the most impressive. Behind its ornate façades embellished with columns and decorative stonework, this spectacular Renaissance townhouse holds the prominent art collection of the Bemberg Foundation. Featuring European artworks spanning from the Renaissance until the 20th century, highlights include paintings by Titian, Canaletto, Toulouse Lautrec and Matisse.

Occupying a restored 16th-century mansion in the historic Carmes district, the Musée Paul Dupuy houses a cornucopia of objets d’art and decorative items assembled by its eponymous local collector. Peruse a treasure trove of medieval religious artefacts, jewellery, ceramics, clocks and impressive curios. The fine permanent collection of drawing and prints by Toulouse artists is complemented by a programme of temporary graphic arts exhibitions.

• 13 Rue de la Pleau, 31000 Toulouse. Open Tue-Sun 10am-6pm.

Now redeveloped as a modern and contemporary art museum, Les Abattoirs occupies the city’s former municipal slaughterhouse on the left bank of the River Garonne. Impressive and expansive gallery spaces host a vibrant temporary exhibition programme alongside the permanent collection, highlights of which include Picasso’s outstanding theatre backdrop, 'La Dépouille du Minotaure en costume d'Arlequin'. The museum’s courtyard, dotted with mosaics and sculptures, integrates the neighbouring riverside park, Raymond VI Garden, where you can stroll right down to the water’s edge.

• 76 All. Charles de Fitte, 31300 Toulouse. Open Wed-Sun noon-6pm (Thu until 8pm).

Flowing all the way from the Spanish Pyrenees to the Atlantic Ocean at the port city of Bordeaux, the Garonne is the most important river in the southwest of France. It snakes its way right through the centre of Toulouse and no visit to the Pink City is complete without a relaxing stroll along its banks. On fine days and warm evenings, locals and visitors flock to the riverside Place Saint-Pierre and Place de la Daurade, some of the liveliest spots in Toulouse and both home to numerous bars and cafes. Step out of your Toulouse hotel and head for the Pont Saint-Pierre bridge. From there you can walk along the riverbank down to Quai de la Daurade taking in views of the western banks of the river and the stone arches of the 17th-century Pont Neuf stretching across the water.

A long-established centre for aviation – the Airbus European aerospace corporation is managed from here – Toulouse’s aerospace heritage is clearly evident at the city's space exploration-themed museum, Cité de l'Espace. Breathtaking full-size models and prototypes are on show alongside interactive displays and captivating exhibitions. The 50-metre-high Ariane 5 space rocket is undoubtedly a highlight, but there are numerous fantastic experiences to savour here from cool planetarium and IMAX shows to a display of a genuine chunk of rock from the Moon.

• Av. Jean Gonord, 31500 Toulouse, France. Open Tue-Sun 10am-5pm. To avoid queuing, buy tickets online in advance. Transport: L1 or L8 bus from the centre of Toulouse followed by a short walk.

Of the city’s several covered markets, Marché Victor Hugo is the best in the Toulouse. Although its exterior resembles a multi-story carpark, just step inside to experience the city’s rich culinary culture. The leading producers in Toulouse offer an incredible range of top-quality foodstuffs. Savour the aromas as you browse stalls offering pungent cheeses, fresh and cooked meats, fish, seafood, and fruit and vegetables, as well as breads and pastries to die for. And with the local obsession for all things duck and goose-related, there’s even a stall specialising almost entirely in foie gras. The market is open from 6am until 1:30pm every day except Sunday.

The Pink City is well known for its food and is the home of classic French comfort dishes like duck confit (confit de canard) and the much-loved cassoulet. Relish this thick, rich stew of pork and duck confit cooked slowly with white beans at Le Genty Magret in the Old Quarter. Or head over to Au Gascon to discover traditional culinary delights including some of the best ‘saucisse de Toulouse’ in the city.

Placing you just a few minutes’ walk from the Capitole, Hôtel Mercure Toulouse Centre Wilson Capitole is one of the most stylish hotels in the city centre. Or for pleasant proximity to green space, try the nearby Novotel Toulouse Centre Wilson which overlooks the leafy Jardin Pierre Goudouli.

Toulouse-Blagnac Airport, a 20-minute drive from the city centre, is served by regular international and domestic flights. Toulouse-Matabiau train station offers local and national railway services and is served by services on both the high-speed Bordeaux–Sète and Toulouse–Bayonne lines. The city’s central Pierre Semard bus station is situated right next to the train station.

Within a couple of hours' train journey from the Pink City you can visit a number of beautiful destinations. Béziers has an impressive 13th-century cathedral perched atop a sheer rock face and delightful beaches, Montpellier offers charming old districts and a taste of the Mediterranean good life in its gorgeous leafy squares, while the hilltop town of Carcassonne is known for its medieval fortress with multiple watchtowers, the Cité de Carcassonne.