Planning a trip to the fourth largest city in France? Here’s a guide to some of the places you can visit – whether it is a weekend break or slightly longer…
Go on a Toulouse food tour: if you love your food then you will want to find out more about some of the traditional dishes that have been served in the city. Created by Do Eat Better Experience Toulouse Food Tour, the experience is a walking tour in small groups, guided by a local expert. This three hour experience will include samplings of Foie gras, Aligot sausage and chocolate tasting to complete the menu!
Pay a visit to Jardin des Plantes Toulouse: for those who enjoy being out in nature but love the city vibes, then do pay a visit to this ancient botanical garden. Featuring one hundred different botanical species, these gardens formerly allowed medical students to make use of the medicinal plants. That was the initial purpose of the garden when it was created in 1794, commissioned by naturalist Philippe Picot de Lapeyrouse. It is open daily from 8am until 6pm.
Wonder around the Basilica of Saint- Sernin: the 11th century basilica is one of the largest omanesque buildings in the western world – so it would be rude not to visit right? It was built to honour Saint Saturnin (or Sernin), the first Bishop of Toulouse and it features 5 large vaulted naves converge on the choir and the gilded wood and marble canopy. Access the crypts and the Tour des Corps Saints, a treasure trove of relics testifying to the prestigious past of this pilgrimage church. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site – making it even more worth a visit!
Stroll around Couvent Des Jacobins Toulouse: this must-see monument is located right in the centre of the city. It invites visitors to explore 800 years of history in one place. There is also a variety of events that take place to help you immerse yourselves in the extensive history including workshops, walks and exhibitions.
Pay a visit to the Pierrre-Baudis Japanese Garden: based right at the heart of the Compans-Caffarelli Park, the Pierre-Baudis Japanese garden offers a place to rest. Inspired by the gardens of Kyoto, built between the 14th and 16th centuries, it was created in 1981 designed and maintained by the Gardens and Green Spaces department of the City Hall on the model of the Katsura villa in Kyoto.It features many of the typical and symbolic elements of a Japanese garden: a tea pavilion, a red bridge, a pond, a sea of sand, rocks, trees pruned into cloud shapes, spheres, and transparent forms, and magnificent cherry blossoms.
Take a look at the Victor Hugo Market: the oldest covered market in France is certainly worth a visit if you are either a foodie or curious stroller, as it acts as a showcase of excellence for local gastronomy in Toulouse, bringing together sixty passionate food vendors.