Visit Toulouse, France

The vibrant capital of France’s Occitanie region, Toulouse is popularly known as La Ville Rose or the Pink City. The nickname comes from its distinct terracotta brick buildings, which lend a warm, rosy hue to its narrow streets. Established around the 2nd century by the Roman Empire, today Toulouse is a hub of cutting-edge technology and the focal point of the European aerospace industry.

The Canal de Garonne and the Canal du Midi meet in the historic heart of Toulouse and provide picturesque, leafy backdrops to the impressive architecture. It’s an easy city to explore on foot, following the maze of streets and dipping into the many cafes and boutiques. Home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, central Toulouse is rich in culture, from its links to the sacred Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage route to its venerated gastronomy.

Tasting Toulouse

A haven for gastronomes, Toulouse is best known for its cassoulet, a slow-cooked herb-enriched casserole of meat and white beans. The city is awash with Michelin-starred restaurants and covered food markets.

The largest of these is the Marché Couvert Victor Hugo, where you can wander through the stalls of artisanal sellers offering local delicacies, from regional cheeses to charcuterie and wine. We can also arrange various food tours of the city, if you like. You’ll join a guided small group either touring the city’s markets or delving into its varied epicurean delights, from chocolates and pastries to wine bars.

A triad of UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Toulouse boasts three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which you can explore on a privately guided walking tour.

The first is the 17th-century Canal du Midi, the oldest canal in Europe, built to link the Atlantic Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea. It starts in Toulouse and gives the city a tranquil, tree-lined heart with a towpath that beckons you to walk or cycle its length.

The second site is the Romanesque Basilica of Saint-Sernin. Dating to the 11th century, it marks a key stop on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route due to its religious significance and intricate architecture.

The pilgrimage pathways themselves are the final protected site. Crisscrossing the city, they form part of the wider European path network, all heading towards Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Their passage through Toulouse marks the city as a significant spiritual seat.

Pastel ‘blue gold’

Toulouse’s prosperity traces to the 14th century, when it produced a deep-blue pigment made from the woad plant, or pastel as it’s known in France. Known as “blue gold”, pastel created indelible inks and dyes that brought huge wealth to the traders of Toulouse.

Some of the city’s most venerated palaces were constructed thanks to the success of this industry. You can discover more about it at the Muséum de Pastel, which is based in Magrin Castle and tracks the history of pastel blue. You’ll also find plenty of opportunities to buy pastel souvenirs across the city, with textiles, stationery, and even cosmetics still made using the ancient extraction methods today. Alternatively, you can join a pastel making workshop where you can dye your own memento to take home.

Best time to visit Toulouse

Toulouse has a subtropical climate, with warm, dry summers and cold, cloudy winters. Our specialists recommend visiting the city between June and October, to take advantage of the warm weather. The peak season for visitors is July and August, when domestic tourism swells the international visitor numbers, so avoiding these two months will give you a quieter trip.