Axelle + Matt - Toulouse, France -

AXELLE + MATT

Toulouse is the capital of the department of Haute Garonne and of the region of Occitanie (in red on the map). It is nicknamed “la ville rose” (the pink city) because of its emblematic architecture made of pinkish terracotta bricks.

We listed some of the highlights below. You can find more exhaustive information on the city’s tourism website: https://www.toulouse-visit.com

-- MUST SEE --

Le Capitole is the city’s most emblematic building. It houses town hall and the Capitole theatre. You can go through it via the central gate, as well as go inside to visit the states rooms. Salle des Illustres: inspired by Versailles, this is where locals get married. Unfortunately you have to live in Toulouse and both be citizens to do so, but we recommend you take a peek. Avoid Saturdays as it might be closed for weddings.
	Church of the Jacobins: former convent built in the Southern French Gothic style. Go inside to admire its striking architecture.
Basilica of Saint-Sernin: one of the largest Roman buildings in the Western world, and a stop on the Way of St James. It is a listed UNESCO heritage site.
	Hôtel d'Assézat & Bemberg Foundation: A major art gallery in Toulouse built during the Renaissance. It houses the Bemberg art collection which brings together pieces from both the Renaissance and the Impressionist eras.
Canal du Midi: Considered one of the greatest construction works of the 17th century, the Canal revolutionized trade along the Southwest. Today it is busier than the Seine and accounts for one-fifth of French river tourism. Tourists can follow the paved stretch alongside the Canal by foot or bike.
	Banks of the Garonne (la Daurade): One of the most beautiful views of the city. A perfect location to sit back and take in a sunset, hang out with a drink or grab a bite to eat.

-- SPECIFIC INTERESTS --

Aeronautics Toulouse is home to Airbus, a European aerospace corporation and primary competitor to Boeing. If you are interested in aeronautics, you can tour the Airbus factory and/or visit the Aeroscopia Museum.
	Musée des Augustins: a fine arts museum home to a collection of sculptures and paintings from the Middle Ages to the early 20th century. It includes pieces representing the Occitan culture.
Cathédrale Saint-Etienne: this is a Roman Catholic church that serves as the seat of the Archbishop of Toulouse. It has been listed since 1862 as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture.
	Japanese Garden: Situated in Compans-Caffarelli Park, this garden is an exotic escape from the city center and a great spot for photos.

-- MARKETS --

Food markets are a French specialty.
Here are some favorites where you can discover regional products:

Victor Hugo (indoors, Tues-Sun)
Carmes (indoors, Tues-Sun)
Saint-Aubin (outdoors, Sat-Sun)

https://www.toulouse-visit.com/markets

-- LOCAL SPECIALTIES --	-- SOUVENIRS & GIFTS --

Cassoulet Toulouse’s specialty ; a white bean casserole with pork, duck confit and sometimes lamb Duck Usually star ingredient of any local dish Armagnac Local brandy (similar to cognac) Floc de Gascogne Regional apéritif, made from sweet wine fortified with armagnac (similar to port) Wine AOCs To name a few: Fronton, Cahors, Gaillac, Madiran, Côtes-de-Gascogne, Pacherenc (white), Jurançon (white), Bergerac, Montravel, Monbazillac (sweet white wine), Buzet	Paradis Gourmand 45 Rue des Tourneurs Artisanal confectionery Paradis Gourmet 15 Rue des Puits Clos Fine foods and spices Graine de Pastel 4 Place Saint-Étienne Woad-based cosmetics. Toulouse was a major center for woad trade during the 15-16th centuries. The plant’s leaves were used to produce a blue dye for textiles known as pastel.

-- RESTAURANTS --	-- BARS & CAFES --	-- TEA TIME --

Evangelina 33 Boulevard Maréchal Leclerc J’Go 16 Place Victor Hugo Emile 13 Place Saint-Georges La Gouaille 6 Rue Joutx Aigues Family style restaurant -- try their roasted camembert! La Binocle 10 Rue Alexandre Fourtanier La Fiancée 54 Rue Peyrolières Le Genty Magre 3 Rue Genty Magre La Faim des Haricots (V) 2bis Rue du Puits Vert	There are lots of places to grab a drink at the following plazzas: Saint-Georges, Capitole, Wilson, Trinité and Saint-Pierre Some other places we like are: Café des Artistes (Daurade) 13 Place de la Daurade Au Père Louis 45 Rue des Tourneurs The George and Dragon 1 Place du Peyrou If you’re REALLY tired of all the Frenchness and need an Anglosaxon break, you can go straight to the bar and order a pint in English.	French people go to tea salons for the ”goûter” (afternoon snack time), which is typically sweet. You’ll find tea and cakes here, but also gourmet lunches. L’autre salon de thé 45 Rue des Tourneurs Les jardins des thés 16 Place Saint-Georges Bapz 13 Rue de la Bourse Flower’s 6 Place Roger Salengro

-- DAY TRIPS --

Carcassonne is a unique fortified ensemble of medieval buildings, listed as World heritage by UNESCO. We recommend going during the week due to high traffic on weekends.
	Albi's history is linked to the Crusades against the Cathar heretics (listed as World Heritage by UNESCO). Don’t miss Sainte-Cécile Cathedral, a unique church built from brick that has the allure of a military fortress, and the Toulouse-Lautrec museum.
Cordes-sur-Ciel is a hilltop medieval village with cobbled streets and sculpted Gothic façades located very close to Albi.
	Lourdes: In 1858, fourteen-year-old Bernadette Soubirous recounted her visions of the Virgin Mary. The grotto has ever since been a pilgrimage site of global significance.

-- MUST SEE --

Le Capitole is the city’s most emblematic building. It houses town hall and the Capitole theatre. You can go through it via the central gate, as well as go inside to visit the states rooms.

Salle des Illustres: inspired by Versailles, this is where locals get married. Unfortunately you have to live in Toulouse and both be citizens to do so, but we recommend you take a peek. Avoid Saturdays as it might be closed for weddings.

Basilica of Saint-Sernin: one of the largest Roman buildings in the Western world, and a stop on the Way of St James. It is a listed UNESCO heritage site.

Church of the Jacobins: former convent built in the Southern French Gothic style. Go inside to admire its striking architecture.

Hôtel d'Assézat & Bemberg Foundation: A major art gallery in Toulouse built during the Renaissance. It houses the Bemberg art collection which brings together pieces from both the Renaissance and the Impressionist eras.

Canal du Midi: Considered one of the greatest construction works of the 17th century, the Canal revolutionized trade along the Southwest. Today it is busier than the Seine and accounts for one-fifth of French river tourism. Tourists can follow the paved stretch alongside the Canal by foot or bike.

Banks of the Garonne (la Daurade): One of the most beautiful views of the city. A perfect location to sit back and take in a sunset, hang out with a drink or grab a bite to eat.

-- SPECIFIC INTERESTS --

Aeronautics Toulouse is home to Airbus, a European aerospace corporation and primary competitor to Boeing. If you are interested in aeronautics, you can tour the Airbus factory and/or visit the Aeroscopia Museum.

Musée des Augustins: a fine arts museum home to a collection of sculptures and paintings from the Middle Ages to the early 20th century. It includes pieces representing the Occitan culture.

Cathédrale Saint-Etienne: this is a Roman Catholic church that serves as the seat of the Archbishop of Toulouse. It has been listed since 1862 as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture.

Japanese Garden: Situated in Compans-Caffarelli Park, this garden is an exotic escape from the city center and a great spot for photos.

-- MARKETS --

-- LOCAL SPECIALTIES --

Cassoulet
Toulouse’s specialty ; a white bean casserole with pork, duck confit and sometimes lamb

Duck
Usually star ingredient of any local dish

Armagnac
Local brandy (similar to cognac)

Floc de Gascogne
Regional apéritif, made from sweet wine fortified with armagnac (similar to port)

Wine AOCs
To name a few: Fronton, Cahors, Gaillac, Madiran, Côtes-de-Gascogne, Pacherenc (white), Jurançon (white), Bergerac, Montravel, Monbazillac (sweet white wine), Buzet

-- SOUVENIRS & GIFTS --

Paradis Gourmand
45 Rue des Tourneurs
Artisanal confectionery

Paradis Gourmet
15 Rue des Puits Clos
Fine foods and spices

Graine de Pastel
4 Place Saint-Étienne
Woad-based cosmetics. Toulouse was a major center for woad trade during the 15-16th centuries. The plant’s leaves were used to produce a blue dye for textiles known as pastel.

-- RESTAURANTS --

Evangelina
33 Boulevard Maréchal Leclerc

J’Go
16 Place Victor Hugo

Emile
13 Place Saint-Georges

La Gouaille
6 Rue Joutx Aigues
Family style restaurant -- try their roasted camembert!

La Binocle
10 Rue Alexandre Fourtanier

La Fiancée
54 Rue Peyrolières

Le Genty Magre
3 Rue Genty Magre

La Faim des Haricots (V)
2bis Rue du Puits Vert

-- BARS & CAFES --

There are lots of places to grab a drink at the following plazzas: Saint-Georges, Capitole, Wilson, Trinité and Saint-Pierre

Some other places we like are:

Café des Artistes (Daurade)
13 Place de la Daurade

Au Père Louis
45 Rue des Tourneurs

The George and Dragon
1 Place du Peyrou
If you’re REALLY tired of all the Frenchness and need an Anglosaxon break, you can go straight to the bar and order a pint in English.

-- TEA TIME --

French people go to tea salons for the ”goûter” (afternoon snack time), which is typically sweet. You’ll find tea and cakes here, but also gourmet lunches.

L’autre salon de thé
45 Rue des Tourneurs

Les jardins des thés
16 Place Saint-Georges

Bapz
13 Rue de la Bourse

Flower’s
6 Place Roger Salengro

-- DAY TRIPS --

Carcassonne is a unique fortified ensemble of medieval buildings, listed as World heritage by UNESCO. We recommend going during the week due to high traffic on weekends.

Albi's history is linked to the Crusades against the Cathar heretics (listed as World Heritage by UNESCO). Don’t miss Sainte-Cécile Cathedral, a unique church built from brick that has the allure of a military fortress, and the Toulouse-Lautrec museum.

Cordes-sur-Ciel is a hilltop medieval village with cobbled streets and sculpted Gothic façades located very close to Albi.

Lourdes: In 1858, fourteen-year-old Bernadette Soubirous recounted her visions of the Virgin Mary. The grotto has ever since been a pilgrimage site of global significance.