Toulouse
Toulouse is the fourth city of
France, capital of the largest region of France - the Midi-Pyrenees
- and home to over 120,000 students making it the second university
centre after Paris.
All
this adds up to make a vibrant and attractive southern town which
combines old and new with panache and style:
Toulouse is home to Airbus and the French aerospace industry at
the sharp end of European technology while also boasting one of
the most complete Renaissance city-centres in France with a wealth
of 15th and 16th century townhouses, châteaux and bridges.
Its
sporting prowess is universally acclaimed with rugby
union, rugby
league and soccer teams in their respective premier leagues,
basketball and baseball teams of renown and an over-representation
of swimmers in the French Olympic team.
Not only is Toulouse worth
visiting in its own right but it is also a convenient base from
which to explore the greater south-west of France, a region rich
in history, culture and gastronomic pleasures. To the east the
fairytale citadel of Carcassonne is
just 50 minutes distant, to the south the mighty Pyrenees offer sporting and
leisure possibilities, to the west the region of Gascony abounds
with good eating and drinking and to
the north are some of the most beautiful villages, cave
paintings and vineyards in the world. see
map
We also run corporate/incentive
programmes out of Toulouse: visits to the Airbus plant coupled
with the viaduct at Millau or French cuisine and wine weekends.
Places and Things you should see:
Airbus plant visit:
see the A380 being built. Sit in the original Concorde!
the 'Cité de l'Espace' (Space Exploration
Centre), the largest permanent space exhibition centre in
the world devoted
to the secrets of the universe and technological progress.
Les Augustins, located in an old monastery
this museum houses one of the most important collections
of mediaeval
sculpture,
witness to a period when Toulouse was at the centre of a flourishing
movement in Romanesque art.
Les Jacobins, southern European chef
d'œuvre of gothique architecture .. and burial
place of St Thomas Aquinas
The Saint Sernin
Basilica -
Europe's largest Romanesque church
The Georges Labit Museum possesses
one of the most remarkable and esoteric collections
of Egyptian
antiques, middle and far eastern art and curiosities.
The Paul Dupuy Museum concentrates
on applied art from the middle ages to the
present day.
The Saint Raymond Museum houses
a remarkable archaeological collection.
The Museum of 'Vieux Toulouse' is
devoted to historical and artistic pieces
related to the history
of the town of Toulouse.
and on the way between Carcassonne and Toulouse:
Castelnaudary - capital of the famous dish, Cassoulet
Revel - market town in the lea of the
Montagne Noire: its 12th century market hall must be seen
Montolieu - charming village on the southern
flank of the Monatgne Noire: its a 'book village' complete
with all the flora
and fauna that that means.
Château de Pennautier - on the
outskirts of Carcassonne: stock up with some of
the best local wine
PHOTO
gallery of Toulouse
Video
of Toulouse
