Toulouse is yours for a weekend in 10 unmissable steps!

The pink city is calling and you’re planning a weekend there? Be aware that this nickname for Toulouse historically stems from the Romans’ arrival in this region and the construction of buildings predominantly in Roman bricks and tiles. The evening light gives the entire city a fairy-tale aura well worth your trip. Now let’s explore what there is to see and visit in this city with an exceptionally rich history.

The Capitole square

A hub of Toulouse tourism, this is the place not to be missed. Dominated by this majestic building – the Capitole – where the city council has met since the Middle Ages, the square commands respect with its 11,500 m².

The Bazacle space

A unique cultural venue, the Bazacle space is a geological and historical site located in a former hydroelectric station on the banks of the Garonne. The exhibitions are sometimes artistic, sometimes heritage-related, and a panoramic terrace even allows you to admire Saint-Pierre bridge.

Saint-Sernin Basilica

Originally built to house the relics of the first bishop of Toulouse, Saint-Saturnin, the basilica boasts remarkable dimensions, such as its nave measuring 115 metres in length – comparable to a football pitch. It is the most visited place in the city, as well as one of the largest Romanesque churches in Europe.

Saint-Sernin Basilica

The Augustinian Museum

Created after the French Revolution, it is Toulouse’s fine art museum and one of the first museums in France, having opened just after the Louvre. Paintings and sculptures find their place within this former convent with its impressive rooms – not to be missed!

Taur Street

Connecting the Capitole square to Saint-Sernin, Taur Street is one of the most lively in the city. Numerous shops such as bookshops and small restaurants line it, while in the past it was a passage for pilgrims coming to pay their respects at the tomb of Saint Saturnin.

The Jacobin convent

It consists of a church, a cloister, a chapter house and Saint-Antonin chapel. A masterpiece of southern Gothic art, it has offered a haven of rest – and coolness in summer – since its founding by the Dominican order in the 13th century.

The banks of the Garonne

A walk by a river is always refreshing and you won’t miss the Garonne in Toulouse. Take the opportunity to stroll along the filters meadow that runs alongside it, which offers splendid views of a large number of Toulouse monuments.

The banks of the Garonne

The MATOU

The poster museum of Toulouse, or MATOU, offers the chance to admire no fewer than 20,000 advertising posters among other graphic works. Temporary exhibitions are held there two to three times a year, as well as some events.

The Cité de l’espace

Toulouse would not be Toulouse without its involvement in aerospace development. The Cité de l’espace offers a very rich museum, animations and projections allowing immersion in the important projects of history, and you can even climb aboard a former Mir space station!

Toulouse Street Art

To conclude, you will surely have noticed during your wanderings numerous wall frescoes scattered throughout the city. If the subject interests you, head to the Cobalt space, a former industrial site converted into an exhibition space and artist workshops since 2015.

Toulouse offers unique treasures, which two or three days will not be enough to discover entirely. Many of them have not been mentioned here but we’ll give you a small hint for the end: you can sample a good number of them in the city’s restaurants! Enjoy your weekend!