Toulouse

Our Toulouse series takes you all over the ‘pink city’, starting with top sights like the Place du Capitole and the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Saint Sernin Basilica. We also visit the riverside, the picturesque back streets and a whole variety of museums.  Days out are covered too, along the Canal du Midi, to the popular medieval fortified town of Carcassonne and to the ancient city of Albi, home to the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum. 

Our 9 Toulouse episodes bring you the background information, history and culture you need to fully understand the city. In short, here is all the research you’d do yourself if only you had the time! So, let’s go, or as the French would put it, ‘On y va!’

TOULOUSE : HISTORY & CULTURE

The Capitol, Toulouse

Episode 1: Introduction to Toulouse

Last Updated on December 10, 2023 by Marian Jones Bienvenue à Toulouse: welcome to Toulouse. Toulouse often tops the polls when the French are asked where they would most like to live and no wonder! … Read more
Saint Sernin, Toulouse

Episode 2: Toulouse Churches and Troubadours

Last Updated on November 20, 2023 by Marian Jones Two words sum up medieval Toulouse: churches and troubadours. The city has a long history as a religious centre. Before the French Revolution did its worst, … Read more
Toulouse Capitole

Episode 3: The Capitole – Toulouse’s Town Hall

Last Updated on December 10, 2023 by Marian Jones It is THE symbol of Toulouse, the elegant pink marble columned façade of the Capitole, sitting majestically along one side of the city’s central square, the … Read more
Toulouse Musee de la Resistance

Episode 4: The Resistance in Toulouse

Last Updated on July 19, 2023 by Ctybr67k How Toulouse fought back in World War 2 This post tells the fascinating story of the Resistance in Toulouse during World War II, based largely on the … Read more
at Aeroscopia in Toulouse

Episode 5: 9 Museums in Toulouse

Last Updated on July 20, 2023 by Ctybr67k Between them, the museums of Toulouse tell the story of the city itself. This post focuses on nine of them, starting with Terre de Pastel where you … Read more
Hotel d'Assezat, Toulouse

Episode 6: Art and Architecture in Toulouse

Last Updated on November 13, 2023 by Marian Jones From Roman remains to cutting edge photography This post will help you appreciate art and architecture in Toulouse. Think of Toulouse and you probably picture the … Read more
Canal du Midi

Episode 7: The Canal du Midi, Toulouse

Last Updated on November 16, 2023 by Marian Jones What more idyllic escape from city-centre Toulouse than to potter up the Canal du Midi on foot, by bike or – best of all – in … Read more
Carcassonne

Episode 8: Carcassonne and Toulouse Lautrec

Last Updated on November 19, 2023 by Marian Jones Two days out in search of history, art and culture Carcassone and Toulouse Lautrec: shorthand for two equally interesting day  excursions from Toulouse. First, the medieval … Read more
Cassoulet

Episode 9: Toulouse Gastronomy

Last Updated on December 1, 2023 by Marian Jones Savouring the foods and drinks of the Languedoc region Gastronomy is a definite highlight of a visit to Toulouse and not just because it’s the home … Read more
Saint Sernin, Toulouse

Toulouse Extra: A Virtual Visit To Toulouse

Last Updated on February 22, 2023 by Hannah Henderson This virtual trip to Toulouse references websites, YouTube videos and books to take you on a virtual tour of this lovely southern French city, often voted … Read more

MORE READING ABOUT

toulouse

Useful websites for tourists
Toulouse Tourist Office 
Haute-Garonne Tourism 
Guide to Toulouse and the Pyrénées

Four useful guidebooks
The Rough Guide to Languedoc and Roussillon
Toulouse and the Haute Garonne by B G Preston
Toulouse Travel Guide by Aaron Ellis
Cycling the Canal du Midi by Declan Lyons

Travel Writing on Toulouse and surroundings
Floating through France by April Orcutt Life Between Locks on the canal du Midi
Notes from the Languedoc and Rouissillon by Rupert Wright
Virgile’s Vineyard, A Year in the Languedoc Wine Country by Patrick Moon
Arrazat’s Aubergines: Inside a Languedoc Kitchen by Patrick Moon
A Goose in Toulouse and other Culinary Adventures by Mort Rosenbaum (only one chapter on Toulouse)

History and Biography
Toulouse-Lautrec – A Life by Julia Frey
The Lost Airman by Seth F Stevens A True Story of Escape from Nazi-Occupied France
Kill them All by Sean McGlynn Cathars and Carnage in the Albigensian Crusade

PODCASTS TO GET YOU STARTED

GALLERY