Must-see visits in Toulouse

Are you planning a trip to Toulouse and wondering what to visit first? Here's an overview of Toulouse's must-see tourist sites.

Toulouse is nicknamed " the pink city " and it has an exceptional heritage. Its history is rich and you can satisfy your curiosity and immerse yourself in its culture in its museums. It is also a green city, with many parks and gardens for a nature break. Finally, Toulouse is dynamic and will surprise you with unusual activities. Let's go for a guided tour of the best tourist sites in Toulouse!

Opening photo: A magnificent aerial view of Toulouse. Photo: © saiko3p | AdobeStock

A heritage tour in the “ Pink City ”

There are so many places to visit that it's difficult to narrow down your options. We recommend taking a tour to admire the city's beautiful heritage, passing by the following must-see monuments :

• Capitol Square has been the heart of Toulouse since the beginning of the 19th century. It is an emblematic place in the political life of Toulouse.
• The Basilica of Saint-Sernin is probably the most beautiful religious monument in Toulouse, located in the historic city center. It has attracted numerous pilgrims and tourists for 2,000 years.
• The Couvent des Jacobins is a medieval jewel and a place of pilgrimage, linked to the relics of Saint Thomas Aquinas.
• The Pont-Neuf dates back to the 17th century. Today, it is the oldest bridge in Toulouse. At night, it lights up, and the view from the quays is truly magnificent. A romantic stroll awaits you!
• Many other monuments could be added to this list, such as the Hôtel d'Assézat, the Capitole dungeon, the Musée des Augustins and many others...
  

To do this circuit, several options are available to you:

• The Toulouse tourist office offers very nice and original themed guided tours.
  
• Take a guided bike tour : the VélOtrement agency will take you on a tour of the city on classic or electric bikes.
• Still on a bike, but exploring on your own, use the city's self-service rental service : VéloToulouse. Pedal wherever you like. The route available on the Outdooractive website, with its 17 points of interest, is well-designed.

Come solve puzzles at Get Out Toulouse

Penetrate the soul of Toulouse through its authentic neighborhoods

To get to know a city, you have to meet its inhabitants. It's often in its neighborhoods that we chat with our neighbors, immerse ourselves in its culture, and understand why they love their city.

Neighborhood markets are places of life, exchange and meeting. You will taste the local gastronomy, admire the crafts and meet colorful characters!

A nature tour of Toulouse

Toulouse is crossed by the Garonne River. Since the 17th century, a canal has been built to improve river transport and runs partly alongside the river. This canal, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. In its entirety, it is called the "Canal des Deux Mers", but its different sections have different names.

• On one side, it is the lateral canal to the Garonne.
• On the other, it is the Canal du Midi.

Toulouse is at the junction between the two. To discover the city from its banks, you can take the Voie Verte, which starts from the city center at Portet, or the Véloroute de la Garonne.

Gardens and parks are part of Toulouse's history. Historic gardens in the city center, exotic green spaces, parks along the banks of the Garonne River, and those surrounding the city... All will reveal a facet of the city of Toulouse.

Discover Toulouse's aeronautical past

From the First World War, Toulouse developed an aviation industry. In 1917, the adventure began with Latécoère aircraft. In 1927, Saint-Exupéry and Mermoz carried out their first tests there. The Aéropostale was founded there and a large company was born: the "Société Nationale de Constructions Aéronautiques du Midi". It was renamed "Sud-Aviation", before becoming " Airbus "! In the 70s, the era of Aérospatiale arrived, with the Concorde, A320, A380 projects...

Several spaces retrace this glorious past:

• The Flight of the Pioneers explains the lives of these exceptional men who gave their lives to earn their wings... Period documents, models, and reconstructions lead you in their footsteps.
• At the Aéroscopia museum, you will relive the design of an A380, tests at the assembly site and even take part in the first flight of the A380, in a replica room!

• At the Cité de l'Espace in Toulouse, an immersive visit awaits you. At the foot of the "Ariane" rocket or the "Sputnik" satellite, you will feel very small in front of these extraordinary machines. In the "Imax" cinema, the "Planétarium" and the "Stellarium", you enter the heart of the universe. And many other experiences will surely surprise you!

Immerse yourself in Toulouse culture in its museums

• In the Halle de la Machine, François Delarozière has successfully combined the genius of Leonardo da Vinci with the imagination of Jules Verne. The Compagnie de la Machine began by creating a first 12-meter-high metal giant that wandered through the streets of Toulouse before settling into the Halle. The spirit has remained, and the visit is more like a street show than a museum. It is an unusual place, a sort of mechanical reverie, which will charm young and old alike...
• To travel without leaving Toulouse, we suggest an Asian stroll at the Georges Labit Museum. There you will see a very varied collection of oriental works of art. Of all kinds, from all countries and all eras, it is an exotic universe that opens up to you.
• The Musée des Abattoirs has something to surprise you, since it is in fact the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Toulouse. These former slaughterhouses offer a unique setting and a very beautiful space for an immense collection of works of art. Its exceptional proportions allow it to accommodate unusual pieces.

There are many other places worth visiting in Toulouse, but we've chosen our favorite tourist spots. We hope this selection will inspire you for your next Toulouse vacation.

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