Description:

Toulouse is France's fourth largest city with a history stretching back over two thousand years, giving it a rich architectural heritage.  But Toulouse is not living in the past.  It has become the centre for both the European space and aviation industries and with the second largest student population after Paris, has become an important university city.

Geography and climate

Located in the very heart of southern France and the Midi-Pyrenees region, the city is situated on the banks of the Garonne River and the Canal du Midi.  It is within easy reach of both the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, while the Pyrenean ski resorts are only two hours away.

The climate is generally mild winters and hot summers, while spring tends to be wet, the autumn can be long and warm often allowing eating alfresco until Christmas.  Summer temperatures can reach 35°C (95°F). and the city is in an area that receives over 2000 hours of sunshine per year. 

Tourism

Toulouse, known as the Ville Rose (Pink City) for its distinctive brick architecture, is host to a rich and diverse culture.   With its long history behind it, the city has much to offer and with a very compact centre, most can be explored easily on foot. 

There are a large number of museums and art galleries, as you would expect in a city of this size.  Please take a look at our separate Toulouse art gallery and museums pages for further information.  Toulouse has many historical buildings and interesting places to visit and these are described on the Toulouse information pages.

For example, visit the Place du Capitole - the largest square in the city and home to the Capitole building, which is the seat of Toulouse administration, home to an opera company and a symphony orchestra as well as an art exhibition.  On a nice day take a stroll along the Canal du Midi, designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 1996 or hire a bicycle and ride along the tow path.

A good day out can be had at the Cite de l'Espace, which gives an insight into space and its exploration and being the centre of aviation in France, you can also take a tour of the Airbus factory.
The city has a number of markets and they can be a pleasant to stroll around taking in the sights, sounds and smells.

For a brief overview of the city, why not take the tourist train with its commented tour showing you some of the major sights of Toulouse.

Economy

Toulouse is at the centre of Europe's aviation and space industries.  To support these industries are a myriad of minor hi-tech companies producing all manner of electronic and mechanical hardware along with large companies such as Siemens and Motorola.

Tourism plays a major role in the economy with Toulouse being ideal for city breaks as well as a base for exploring the regions sights.

Transport

Toulouse airport is served by British Airways and Easyjet from the UK, both connecting with London Gatwick.  A number of major carriers, including Air France, Lufthansa and KLM connect with many European cities, making Toulouse an easy stop off as part of a bigger Europe tour.  Once at the airport, the Navette-Tisseo shuttle runs into the city centre every 20 minutes. 

By train, there is a TGV terminal at Toulouse linking with Paris, Bordeaux and Lille.  The journey time from Paris is around five hours and Lille about seven and a half.

Driving to Toulouse is a breeze thanks to the Autoroute system, but as with any large city, congestion can be a problem particularly at peak times.  Travelling from the north, use the E09 / A20 and from Bordeaux the E72 / A62

Once in the city, there is a free electric shuttle service within the city centre, two underground lines and a regular bus service.  Details can be found on the website (French only).

More details and links on the routes to the area are available on our travel pages.

Check out Guide2MidiPyrenees for Property in Midi-Pyrenees, Events, News, Classifieds, Places to Stay, Midi-Pyrenees Attractions and Business Directory.