Where is the city of toulouse. The main attractions of Toulouse - the pink city

Toulouse

- Big City in the south of France, attracting tourists with its Renaissance sights.

Toulouse is far from the seas, but the city has something to show visitors. Many come to Toulouse as part of tours of the main cities of France, especially since it is convenient to travel further from here to any part of the country or to Spain.

Data

• Population: approximately 450 thousand people;
• Status: the capital of the Midi-Pyrenees region, the 4th most populated city in France;
• Focus: scientific and industrial (complex production) center, tourism;
• Transport accessibility: international Airport directly in the city;
• Distance from other cities and countries: Bordeaux (200 km), Narbonne (130 km), Perpignan (170 km), Andorra (120 km), Paris (600 km), the border with Spain is located 100 km from Toulouse.

Rest

Toulouse rarely becomes a long-term holiday destination, but this city is regularly visited by tourists for various reasons. Firstly, Toulouse is a convenient transport hub, planes from all over the world fly here. And then from Toulouse you can go both west to the Bay of Biscay, to Bordeaux or Bayonne, and east to the Mediterranean Sea, towards Montpellier and Perpignan. Secondly, this city has interesting architecture and sights, which attracts travelers who want to visit all the main cities of France. Also from Toulouse you can get to ski resorts Pyrenees.

Toulouse is divided by the Garonne river, the main attractions and the center is located on the right bank, and on the left is the airport and all the new sleeping areas. The city itself is interesting for its historical center. Toulouse, known since ancient Roman times, began to actively develop in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, which shaped the image of the city. Often Toulouse is called the "pink" city because of the color of historical buildings - a significant part of them are built of pink brick.

Kitchen

In addition to traditional French cuisine, you can try several original dishes in Toulouse. France is the world leader in the production of foie gras, while the region of which Toulouse is the capital is the second largest producer of the delicacy in France itself. In Toulouse foie gras is sold in many stores and served in almost all restaurants in a different form: a classic cold appetizer, stuffed vegetables, fruits and even meat baked in foie gras dough, etc.

Traditional for the South of France and a unique local dish - cassoulet. This is a very thick soup based on beans and meat, similar to fabada, which is famous for the Spanish Oviedo and all of Asturias.

Toulouse is also known for violets, which are actively used for cooking various dishes. This flower, which has been grown in the city since the end of the 19th century, is used to make liqueurs and various sweets. In Toulouse, there are entire shops dedicated to violet products, where you can buy violet candies, violet cakes, sugared violets, etc. Liqueurs and jams are also made from it.

Science and production

Modern Toulouse is also the main scientific center of southern France.. It is this city that is now making a huge contribution to the country's space industry. Also here is the production of Airbus.

But for high-tech industries, personnel are also needed, who are being trained right there in Toulouse. In terms of the number of students, this city ranks 4th in France, but the percentage is simply incredible. On average, 100,000 people study at Toulouse universities, so that 20% of the urban population are students.

Entertainment

Beyond simple tourist holiday, there are plenty of other things to do in Toulouse. The city, where every fifth resident is a student, is rich in various clubs, restaurants and other leisure facilities.

You can also visit a few tourist-oriented, but enough interesting places. For example - a theme space park, a botanical garden, a spa complex.

shopping

Shopping in Toulouse is traditionally European. You can visit the usual boutiques, outlets, as well as flea and farmers markets.

Large boutiques of famous international brands are located in the very center, around Place du Capitole. Many shops, including inexpensive local brands, can be found on Rue Saint-Rome, which runs from central square exactly south. Outlets are located mainly outside the city, one of the largest and most famous is Nailloux Outlet Village, which is located 25 kilometers along the highway to the south. It's not even shopping mall, but a small village with several streets, where outlet stores were built instead of houses.

Flea markets are open on Sundays from morning to afternoon. The most famous works in the center, near the Basilica of Saint Sermin, which is located a few hundred meters from Place du Capitole. You can find many interesting antiques here. low prices, even just walking around the market is interesting, but it will be difficult to leave without shopping.

It is worth considering that southern location cities and big influence Spanish culture brought to Toulouse such a thing as a siesta. Unlike the traditional lunch break, many shops and establishments close around two in the afternoon and open in the late afternoon.

Weather

Since Toulouse is not seaside resort, the climate will not play a decisive role when visiting this city. But best time the trip is considered spring and autumn.

Summer in Toulouse can be hot. Even in June, the temperature rises to 30-35 degrees Celsius, and the scorching southern sun only worsens the situation. In winter, frosts and snowfalls can occur, but they last no longer than a couple of days, most of the winter the air temperature in Toulouse during the day is 5-10 degrees Celsius. But in autumn and spring the weather is always comfortable - warm enough, but not hot, rains are rare.

Map

Story

The Garonne Valley has been inhabited by people since ancient times, in the vicinity of Toulouse there are sites from the Paleolithic times, and a fairly large settlement was discovered, which was a definite political center.

But the history of Toulouse as a full-fledged city begins around the 3rd century BC, when representatives of the Celtic Volk tribe settled in this area. Their settlement was located on the hills on the right bank of modern Toulouse and was an advantageous crossroads of several trade routes.

Roman period

Then the Romans came to this region. In 121 BC the province of Narbonne Gaul was founded, and in 118 the Romans founded on the coast mediterranean sea the city of Narbo-Martius, which is now called Narbonne. Toulouse at that time did not interest the Romans, Narbonne allowed to control the Domitian Way, connecting Rome and Spain, and the Volci were considered allies, because there was a garrison near the city, and Toulouse was independent.

But this state of affairs did not last more than ten years, already in 109 the Germans began to raid Roman Gaul and the Volks decided to support the barbarians in order to completely get rid of the influence of Rome. But the attempt was unsuccessful, in 106 BC Quintus Servilius Scipio captured and plundered the city.

After that, Toulouse turned into a typical Roman city, the population was Romanized and fully consistent with Italian culture. Welfare grew, wine was produced, which was consumed locally by Roman soldiers and was not exported beyond the surrounding cities. Trade in slaves and agricultural products also flourished.

By the first century AD, Toulouse had grown to 20,000 inhabitants. Many cultural and social institutions functioned in the city: theaters, temples, schools and even sewers. But the buildings of the Roman period are almost not preserved. On the one hand, unlike in Italy, clay bricks were used in the construction, which quickly collapsed, and on the other hand, many medieval buildings were erected on the basis of Roman buildings, and the cultural layer itself is hidden at a depth of 3-5 meters. Many archaeological finds were made during the construction of the subway.

Middle Ages

In the II-III centuries of our era, Toulouse was strengthened, in particular, fortress walls were built. In the 3rd century Bishop Saturninus came to the city and brought Christianity. He founded a diocese, but was persecuted and executed. For this, he was ranked as a martyr, and now Saturninus of Toulouse is considered the patron saint of the city.

At the beginning of the 5th century, when the Roman Empire falls, Toulouse comes under the rule of the Visigoths. In 418, the Kingdom of the Visigoths is founded, made possible by an agreement with the Roman emperor. Toulouse received the status of the capital, and the state itself is often called the Kingdom of Toulouse. This period, which lasted a little less than a hundred years, was the heyday for Toulouse and the final strengthening of Christianity as a religion, but it was not Catholicism, but Arianism.

This period ends in 508 with the arrival of the Franks, who conquered Aquitaine along with Toulouse. From this moment begins the decline caused by big amount factors: the demographic crisis, crop failures, the decline of culture, etc.

Then, in the 8th century, the occupation of Spain by the Arabs began. They were able to capture nearby Narbonne, the only cities in the region that did not surrender to the Arabs: Carcassonne, Nimes and Toulouse, which served as the capital. In 721, the Arabs tried to capture Carcassonne, but decided not to waste their strength on capturing a strong, but not the main fort, and went straight to Toulouse. The siege lasted three months, but Ed the Great, Duke of Aquitaine, left the city before the siege to raise an army. He succeeded, and on June 9, 721, he caught the besiegers by surprise. As a result of the battle of Toulouse, the Arabs were defeated, this is the first victory of the Catholics over the Arabs, which was important for the subsequent reconquista.

In the XIII century, the Albigensian Crusade began, directed against the Cathar sect, which prevailed in Toulouse as well. The city was besieged several times and in 1218 was taken by the Crusaders, but the leader of the campaign, Simon de Montfort, died during the siege. It is believed that he was killed by a stone-throwing machine that was installed on the roof of the cathedral.

The capture by the crusaders, although it harmed the city, but subsequent development under Catholic rule made up for all the damage. In particular, in 1229 the University of Toulouse was founded, which was copied from Paris. Also at this time, the monastic order of the Dominicans was founded, and Toulouse became the regional center of the Inquisition.

The city grew and developed in a rather calm environment until the 15th century. Several upheavals occurred in this century - a major fire, population growth, which led to a shortage of housing and famine. But in 1463, Toulouse became the center for the production of the dye, which was called "pastel". It was in great demand and in a short period the prosperity of the city increased dramatically, at that time many rich merchant houses were built, which have survived to this day. But this period ended quickly enough, America was discovered and the Toulouse business killed the import of the more profitable indigo dye.

Renaissance and Modern times

In the 16th century, the city was just beginning its path to decline, but from the very beginning of the 17th century, the situation worsened sharply. The confrontation between the local government of the Capitol and the state Parliament entered the main phase. Toulouse also suffered two severe plague epidemics.

The first time the "black death" came to the city in 1629, the second time - in 1652. The city was devastated, most of the nobility left it, and ordinary residents, in addition to the disease itself, were also killed by hunger. The epidemic ended in 1654, but another famine came to the city in 1693.

But despite the damage from the plague, two large engineering structures were built in Toulouse in the 17th century. In 1632, the construction of the bridge, which is now a landmark, was completed, and during the period 1666–1682, the South Channel was dug, connecting the Bay of Biscay with the Mediterranean Sea.

The following centuries were marked by the French Revolution, which significantly reduced the regional role of Toulouse, but also helped to overcome social inequality, which intensified at the end of the 18th century.

On April 10, 1814, a major Battle of Toulouse took place between Napoleonic troops and the combined forces of the British, Spaniards and Portuguese. This battle was one of the last for the imperial army and could not take place at all - Napoleon abdicated a few days earlier, but Marshal Nicola Soult did not know about it yet.

Our days

The beginning of the 20th century was the time of another heyday for the city. Firstly, the urban population increased greatly, many residents from the surrounding villages moved to the city, as well as migrants from Spain and Italy, the first fled from civil war, and the second - from the Mussolini regime. Secondly, during the First World War, many industries were transferred to Toulouse as to a large city, as far as possible from the fronts.

In 1963, the French government takes new plan development of the country. According to him, diversification is carried out, and Toulouse becomes one of the cities that it was decided to turn it into a large scientific and industrial metropolis. Aviation and space industries, which are now dominant in the city, are transferred here. In parallel, science is developing, as already noted, now 100 thousand students live in the city. But a number of unresolved problems remain, in particular, the lack of a convenient transport connection with Paris, which they want to solve in 2016 by launching a line of high-speed trains.

Attractions

Attention can also be attracted by other attractions, of which there are a lot in Toulouse. There is a theater on the central square, several parks, a small zoo and a botanical garden welcome visitors in the city. Other religious sites have also been preserved in Toulouse, most of which have a long history. Pleasure boats floating along the Garonne and artificial channels are also available for tourists. Every tourist, even passing through Toulouse, will find something to do in the city and will not regret the time spent.

Photo

I thought for a very long time about which sights to highlight, since all of them left a storm of incredible emotions in me.

But still, here are the best of the best.

Toulouse Town Hall (Capitole de Toulouse)

If I may say so, then the most real and immortal classics. From there, I would recommend starting your acquaintance with the city. It is located on the city square, in the central part of the city, it is simply impossible to pass by and not notice this building. It was built of red-pink brick, and also decorated with columns. If you come closer, you can see engraved coats of arms on them, as well as significant dates for the French people.

By the way, local members and assessors themselves call the town hall the Capitol, this is due to the fact that noble chapters used to sit there and decide important matters.

Today, everyone has the opportunity to be inside, because the building is located Opera theatre and a small hall of fame. Its walls are painted by local artists, and there are also busts of great chapters.

Address: Place du Capitole.

Opening hours: Mon-Sat from 10:00 to 19:00 (on Monday from 14:00), Sunday is a day off. Free admission.

Asses Mansion

Another bright and very beautiful architectural landmark. The mansion itself was built in the sixteenth century and was intended for a wealthy artisan, Assez. Now a beautiful, majestic and very pompous building, which was erected in the Renaissance style, belongs to the state.

You can get inside the building, as well as walk freely in its garden, there is the Bemberg Museum, where I would recommend enjoying the paintings of local artists and European talents. To be honest, the mansion itself produced much more vivid impression than a museum. But to realize that you killed two birds with one stone, being inspired by the architecture of the building and at the same time getting acquainted with the originals of world masterpieces, is also nice.

Address: Place d'Assezat.

Opening hours: Mon-Sat from 10:00 to 19:00, Sunday is a day off. Entrance: 2 EUR.

Church of the Jacobins

The most unusual religious building I have ever visited in France. The temple was built in the thirteenth century and in its original form has survived to this day. The Jacobin church was built in the Gothic style in a rather interesting square-rounded shape. Inside there is a small garden, a pond and a fountain. The interior of the building boasts beautiful stained-glass windows shimmering from the sun, the walls are illuminated by kerosene lamps, which makes the building not smell so pleasant, but thanks to such an “anti-modern” one can say that the church has some kind of its own, unusual charm.

Today the church building is not used for its intended purpose. Once a week, classical music concerts are organized there, by the way, a very interesting and inspiring event. On other days the church is open like an architectural platform.

Address: Place des Jacobins, 1.

Opening hours: Mon-Sun from 10:00 to 20:00. Free admission.

South Channel

This is one of the most romantic places in the city, a canal where two rivers join together at once: the Garonne and the Ethan de Tho. The southern channel has a length of almost 250 kilometers. It was landscaped back in the seventeenth century, under Louis IV.

I don’t know if it was so beautiful four hundred years ago, but today the South Canal is the real highlight of the city. It is there that you can safely ride on small boats, feed the birds and look at the crystal clean water fish. The banks of the canal are densely planted with trees and shrubs, so there is an atmosphere of calm and some solitude with nature. By the way, this channel is listed world heritage UNESCO, and if you visit there, you will know why :).

Address: Boulevard de l'Embouchure.

Opening hours: around the clock, you can ride a boat daily from 09:00 to 22:00. Cost: 7 EUR per hour.

City embankment and new bridge

These two attractions are one, so for those who love hiking this will be a real find. I went there after visiting so many pompous buildings in order to simply blend in with the locals and I was not mistaken!

The city embankment is located in the center of the city, it is very attractive in the evenings, when you can go boating, feed the seagulls or just enjoy the charming views to the sounds that flow from the instruments of street musicians. new bridge, despite the name, was built in the seventeenth century. Then he was walking. True, now cars drive along it, but there is enough space for people on foot and for lovers of cycling.

Toulouse (France) - the most detailed information about the city with a photo. The main attractions of Toulouse with descriptions, guides and maps.

City of Toulouse (France)

Toulouse is a city in southern France and the capital of the Occitania region. Located in the heart of the French southwest near the Pyrenees, halfway between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Toulouse is one of most beautiful cities France with interesting brick architecture, rich history, sunny climate, friendly and relaxed atmosphere. La Ville Rose (translated as "pink city") - this is how Toulouse is called because of the terracotta bricks from which many old buildings of the historic center are built.

Toulouse was founded on the site of an ancient Roman settlement. In the Middle Ages, it was a popular pilgrimage site and the religious center of southern France. The Basilica of Saint-Sernin was one of the stops on the way of St. James and is now included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Now Toulouse is an important scientific, industrial and Cultural Center countries.

Geography and climate

Toulouse is located on the banks of the Garron River, 680 km from Paris. Old city occupies the right bank, and on the left is the suburb of Saint-Cyprien. The climate is subtropical (Mediterranean). It is characterized by hot summers and mild winters.

Practical Information

1. The population is over 470 thousand people.
2. The area is 118.3 km2.
3. The language is French.
4. Currency - euro.
5. Visa - Schengen.
6. Time - UTC +1, summer +2.
7. Blagnac International Airport is located 11 km from Toulouse, which connects it with some major European cities.
8. Toulouse has an excellent transport connection with Paris, Barcelona, ​​Bordeaux, Marseille.
9. The city is famous for its excellent gastronomy. The most famous local dishes are duck, Saucisse de Toulouse (fried spicy sausages) and Cassoulet (stew with beans and herbs).
10. Toulouse is a very safe city. It is enough to follow basic safety rules and keep an eye on your belongings in crowded places.

Story

The history of Toulouse has more than two thousand years and it is one of the oldest cities in France. Even in the pre-Roman period, there was a Gallic settlement of Tholosa, which in 106 BC. was captured by the Romans. From the 4th century AD Toulouse is the seat of a bishop. From 419 to 507 - the capital of the kingdom of the Visigoths. At the beginning of the 6th century, Toulouse was captured by the Franks.

In the future, the city was the center of the kingdom of Aquitaine. In 721 he was besieged by the Saracens, but survived. Since the second half of the 8th century, Toulouse has been the residence of the counts of Toulouse, who controlled almost the entire south of France. In the Middle Ages, the city flourished and was an important center of pilgrimage, as it was located on the religious route of St. Jacob.

In 1214, the Dominican order was founded here. In 1217-1218 Toulouse was besieged and taken by the crusaders. The University of Toulouse was founded in 1229. In 1271, Toulouse became part of the Kingdom of France and the center of the province of Languedoc.

In the 16th century (during the Huguenot wars) Toulouse was a stronghold of Catholics. In the future, the importance of the city declined. Everything has changed relatively recently. In the 20th century, Toulouse became the center of the French aircraft industry, and Charles de Gaulle commissioned the National Center for Space Research to be located here. This contributed to the rise of the economy and population growth.

Attractions

Saint-Sernin is an ancient Romanesque basilica and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Is one of the most beautiful churches on the medieval religious path of St. James in Santiago de Compostela. Saint-Sernin was built between the 11th and 13th centuries in the red brick typical of Toulouse architecture.

The building has a five-nave structure and a three-nave Romanesque transept. The basilica is dedicated to St. Saturin (Sernen), who was martyred in Patras (Greece). His tomb is located in the apse. Interesting features Saint-Sernin: splendid Romanesque façade, sculptured portal, fine 17th century choir, huge carved Romanesque crucifix in the north transept, 11th century marble reliefs and a crypt with religious relics.

The Dominican monastery is a fine example of Southern Gothic architecture. It was founded in the 13th century and is completely built of red brick. The tower of the monastery church resembles the architecture of the Saint-Sernin tower. The monastery has a strict appearance and exquisite interior architecture. Chapel of St. Antonia is decorated with paintings from the 16th century. The relics of St. Thomas Aquinas are also kept here.

Capitole Square is the lively center of Toulouse, which has exquisite classical architecture. On the western side of the square you can look at the beautiful arcades. On the east side is the famous 18th century Capitol building with impressive halls. Behind the square is an ancient defensive tower from the 16th century, and to the south are the charming streets of the old town.

Saint-Etienne - Cathedral, which was built for several centuries and has the features of several architectural styles at once. The first church on this site was built at the end of the 12th century in the Southern Gothic style. Later, the cathedral was rebuilt in the Northern Gothic style to compete with the magnificent cathedrals of Northern Europe. In the structure of the church, a massive tower, a huge rose window with stained glass windows and complex decorative elements of the facade stand out. Inside you can see 17 chapels and beautiful tapestries from the 16th - 18th centuries.

The Carmelite Chapel is a small religious building with magnificent murals inspired by the Sistine Chapel. The chapel was built in the 17th century and was part of a Carmelite monastery that was destroyed during the French Revolution.

The Canal du Midi is a 240 km long hydraulic structure built in the 17th century and connecting the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Here you can enjoy a leisurely walk and a relaxing atmosphere.

Chapel of St. Joseph is a beautiful 17th century chapel that is the main attraction of Saint-Cyprien. It was once part of a medieval hospital that housed plague victims.

Notre Dame du Taur

Notre-Dame-du-Taur is an old church with an unusual bell tower. It was built of pink bricks in the Southern Gothic style. According to legend, the church stands on the spot where the body of the first bishop of Toulouse, Sernin, fell, who was killed by the Romans and tied to a bull, letting the animal through the city.

Church of St. Pierre

Saint-Pierre Church is a 17th century religious building built by Carthusian monks. The church is decorated with magnificent 18th-century sculpture, frescoes and stucco bas-reliefs.

Notre Dame de la Dalbade - ancient church with a very beautiful portal, located in the heart of the Carmes quarter. The history of the church dates back to the 6th century. The building was completely rebuilt in the 15th century after a fire. Until 1926, the church had the tallest bell tower in the city, until it collapsed.

The ruins of the Roman amphitheater are the only ancient monument in Toulouse. The amphitheater was built by the Romans in the 1st century AD. and was used for gladiator fights until the end of the 4th century.

Notre Dame de la Daure is an imposing basilica located on the banks of the Garron. It was built in the 5th century on the ruins of a Roman temple. In the 9th century it became part of a Benedictine monastery. The old church was demolished in the 18th century and completely rebuilt.

Donjon is a 16th century powder tower topped by a bell tower in the style of Flemish architecture.

Museums in Toulouse:

• Museum of Fine Arts, located in the former Augustinian monastery. Demonstrates a collection of paintings and sculptures. The collection of paintings includes works by artists from the Renaissance to the 20th century, including masterpieces by Perugino and Rubens. The collection of sculptures spans the Romanesque period to the modern era. Among the sculptures, the most impressive are the magnificent works of the late Middle Ages.
• Museum of Fine and Decorative Arts (Bemberg Foundation), housed in an extravagant 16th century mansion. Here you can look at paintings, bronze sculptures and other art objects. The highlight of the collection of paintings are the works of the Renaissance and the modern French school, including paintings by Monet and Boudin.
• Archaeological Museum(Saint-Raymond) - a wonderful collection of archaeological finds and antiquities. The museum is housed in a medieval university building. The highlight of the collection is the gallery of Roman sculptures.

In the center of Toulouse there are many narrow streets, old mansions of wealthy seniors, a large botanical garden. Most of the buildings are made of pink brick, which gives the city an extreme tenderness, especially during sunrises and sunsets.

chief historical heritage Toulouse are the Basilica of Saint-Sernin and the Capitol.
The Basilica of San Sernin (Basilique Saint-Sernin de Toulouse) is the largest Romanesque church that has survived in Europe. It is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can visit the temple on any day, from 9:00 to 18:00. Free admission. It is located on the square of the same name - place Saint-Sernin.

The Capitol is located on the square of the same name in the city. For several centuries, the local government has been sitting here. The building has eight columns, which symbolize the chapters of the Middle Ages. The Capitol has a large opera house, a symphony hall and a city library. Also worth noting is the beautiful courtyard. Anyone can visit the building.

Space City (Cité de l'espace) is a great place to learn more about space exploration and the solar system. This modern park entertainment opened in 1997. Over the entire period, it was visited by about 5 million people. In the park, you can look at exhibitions of models of rockets, spacecraft, satellites, visit thematic lectures, watch films about the aerospace sector. Also, you can visit the planetarium, one of which shows the first starry sky, which was seen by the ancient Egyptians. For children, the town will also be interesting. There are many space-themed rides here. The town is located on the outskirts of Toulouse on Avenue Jean Gonord, it can be visited every day from 10:00 to 17:00, in winter - Monday is a day off. Entrance for adults - 20 euros, up to 15 years old - 16 euros, for children under 5 years old - free of charge.

The South Channel was built in 1681 to connect the Atlantic and the Mediterranean for ships to pass through. Its length is 240 km. The channel is built in such a way that the vessel passing by is much higher than you. This is the most complex structure of this period. Nowadays, only tourist boats ply the canal. The channel is under the care of UNESCO.

Also, it is worth visiting the town of Blagnac to visit the Airbus factory (Airbus S.A.S.) with a tour. All visitors can see how the liners are assembled, how salons are modeled. The tour costs 25 euros, you need to book the tour in advance. The use of a camera is prohibited.

Museums in Toulouse

Museum of the Augustins (Muse des Augustin) - large Art Museum, which occupies the building of the former Augustinian monastery on Rue de Metz, 21. The museum has more than four thousand exhibits of outstanding artists and sculptors. The museum is open from Monday to Thursday and on Sunday. The ticket price is 2.5 euros.

The Museum of Modern Art (Les Abattoirs) is located on the allee Charles-de-Fitte. Visiting days are from Tuesday to Sunday, from 11:00 to 19:00. Admission ticket costs 6 euros.

The Musée Paul Dupuy Museum owns a large collection of decorative art from the Middle Ages. Also, the museum presents exhibits from the pharmacy of the Jesuit order, and a collection of 130 antique clocks. All the exhibits were collected by Paul Dupuis in his own collection, but over time he decided to open a museum. The museum is located on Rue de la Pleau, 13. You can visit the building every day, except Monday, from 10:00 to 17:00. Entrance - 4 euros.

Museum of Georges Labit (Georges Labit Museum) contains a collection of art and artifacts of the Ancient East, India, China, Egypt. Near the museum there is an exotic garden. The museum is located on Rue des Martyrs de la Resistance, 49.

Museum of the History of Medicine (Musée de l'Histoire de la médecine), located on Place Laganne. Here is a collection of old medical instruments, books, engravings, ancient pharmaceutical medicines.

New Bridge (Pont-Neuf) Despite the name, the New Bridge is a very old building of Toulouse, which is more than 5 centuries old. The construction took about a hundred years. As a result, the bridge consists of seven arches. This bridge is the symbol of the city, and therefore every tourist should visit it at least once. It is best to do this in the evening. At night, the bridge has amazing lights that are playfully displayed in the water.

The Lagan Water Tower (Château d'Eau de Laganne) is located near the New Bridge. Its other name is Lagan's Water Castle. Previously, it was a hydraulic machine to distribute the waters of the local Garonne river. Later the tower was used as a warehouse. Now the building houses a photo gallery, a library, a video library, and regular exhibitions are held.

The House of Violets (La Maison de la Violette) is a place that combines boutique and museum. By visiting this House, you can not only learn everything about violets, but also buy products made from these beautiful flowers and everything related to them to some extent (books, postcards, clothes, accessories, eau de toilette, cosmetics, tea, sweets, and the flowers themselves). On the open terrace near the house, in the warm months of the year, there is a cafe. Also, master classes are often held in the House of Violets. The building is located on Boulevard Bonrepos, 3. The house of violets can be visited every day, except Sunday, from 10:00 to 19:00, lunch from 12 to 14.

The Botanical Garden (Jardin des plantes de Toulouse) connects two city parks - the Grand Rhone and the Royal Garden. On 7 hectares of land you can see a variety of local and tropical plants, rare species of trees, flower beds, canaries, peacocks, ruins of ancient buildings, sculptures by local craftsmen. A huge pond makes the park a real oasis among urban developments. Also in botanical garden housed Museum natural history. Location - Alle des Justes des Nations. Opening hours: from 8:00 to 18:00.

Every Sunday, in the morning, the city opens flea markets. The largest is located near the Basilica of Saint-Sernin. Beautiful antique souvenirs and vintage trinkets will impress any visitor. Another famous market is located near the Basilica of Saint Aubin.

To buy fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs and homemade wine from the neighboring suburbs, it is worth visiting the farmers' market on Boulevard de Strasbourg. The market is open every Sunday from early morning until noon.

Toulouse is a vibrant city. It boldly combines romantic old architecture and ultra-modern buildings. Everyone who visits this wonderful city, will be able to find something unusual for themselves.

An ordinary French postman from the small town of Hauterives had an unusual dream - about his own castle. And in the spring of 1879, the first stone for the realization of the dream was laid - in the full sense of the word. Ferdinand Cheval began to collect stones of unusual shapes and colors. He devoted 20 years to this occupation, until his retirement. Neighbors considered Cheval a strange eccentric. And in the meantime, he began to build his "Ideal Castle" from the stones. It took Cheval 33 years to build the dream palace. To "glue" the castle, the author used a mixture of cement and lime.

It is difficult to talk about the belonging of the palace to any style. This is a real architectural flight of fancy - in the castle you can see scenes from Biblical and Hindu mythology. On the walls of the palace are the sayings of Buddha and Christ. Inside there is a mosque and a temple of the Virgin Mary. The castle also has many passages and exits. Outside Cheval's Ideal Palace is decorated with stairs, fountains and sculptures.

Almost 50 years after the death of Ferdinand Cheval, his original creation was recognized by many famous personalities, including Pablo Picasso. And in 1969, the French Ministry of Culture announced that the Ideal Palace was given the official status of a historical monument.

Garlic Museum

The Garlic Museum will tell visitors about an amazing plant that has many useful properties. It is located in France, in the Toulouse region and has been open to visitors since June 2000. The museum invites visitors to learn about the culture of garlic, its history, varieties and devices associated with the processing of garlic while visiting the museum.

The Garlic Museum holds an annual festival in honor of garlic, here you can find many recipes where garlic plays an important role in cooking, such as the garlic sausage recipe. There are also exhibitions of sculptures made from garlic heads, garlic peel leaves.

Since garlic is strength, health and energy, visiting Garlic's house will leave you with only positive emotions and a great mood. Any vacationer visiting the Garlic Museum can have a picnic in nature, as well as buy garlic skeins of any length, bags and bundles of garlic.

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Basilica Saint-Sernin

The Basilica of Saint-Sernin is calling card Toulouse. This is the largest building of the Romanesque style that has survived to this day. The name of the basilica is associated with the name of St. Sernin (or Saturninus), who was the first bishop of Toulouse, who died in 257. The very first basilica on the site of the bishop's burial was erected at the end of the 4th century. In 768-800, during the reign of Charlemagne, who donated several sacred relics to the Basilica, it began to play the role of an important staging post on the route of pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela. In 1080, the construction of the basilica began. The apse was built first, and 16 years later the choir and chapel were completed. In the 12th century, an octagonal tower was added to the church, and its spire was erected only in the 15th century.

The basilica has been repeatedly rebuilt and restored, but the most extensive architectural changes to the church were made in 1271. The layout of the Basilica of Saint-Sernin differs from other early Christian basilicas. First of all, it is much larger than other churches. Secondly, its walls are mostly made of bricks. Thirdly, the layout of the basilica resembles a cross, and the ceilings, unlike similar buildings, are vaulted.

The Asses Mansion is a striking example of a Renaissance palace with elements of classicism. It is located on the square of the same name - about one kilometer south of the Saint-Sernin Basilica. The mansion was built for the wealthy Toulouse industrialist Pierre Assez in the middle of the 16th century.

The building was designed by the Toulouse architect Nicolas Bachelier. It consists of three floors, each of which is decorated in three classic orders: The first floor is made in the Ionic order, the second and third, respectively, in Doric and Corinthian. The courtyard was furnished with pomp and luxury. The Assesa family owned the building until the middle of the 18th century. Then it was acquired by Ozen Bank.

Now several scientific societies are located in the building of the former private mansion, including the Bemberg Foundation Museum. Its exposition exhibits paintings by famous Italian mannerists - Canaletto, Veronese, Tintoretto, as well as works by French impressionists, Picasso, Modigliani and other artists.

Museum of the Past Toulouse

Toulouse has many excellent museums and exhibitions. The Museum of the Past of Toulouse invites all those interested in the history of this ancient city. The exposition of the museum is extensive and includes many interesting exhibits.

The Museum of the Past of Toulouse is housed in the Hotel Dumeil, a magnificent architectural monument built in the 17th century. The museum's collection contains numerous artifacts related to the thousand-year history of Toulouse. Here there are both objects discovered during archaeological sites ancient monuments this region, evidence of the Middle Ages and modern times.

Paul Dupuis Museum

While walking through the museums of Toulouse, you should definitely visit the Paul Dupuy Museum. Here you can see an extensive exposition dedicated to the Languedoc. The Museum has numerous collections of glass, metal and wood products, Chinese jewelry, and rare watches. Large collection of religious objects. The interior of the Toulouse pharmacy of the middle of the 17th century, which was moved here from the college, was reconstructed in the museum

Jesuits. In addition, the exposition presents household items, traditional clothing, pottery and furniture used by the inhabitants of the city from the Middle Ages to the present day.

Space City Theme Park

The theme park "Space City", located in the suburbs of the French city of Toulouse, will be of interest to all lovers of space and adventure. It was opened in 1997 and immediately became popular among local residents and tourists.

The expositions of the park acquaint visitors with the history of space exploration; in special interactive pavilions, anyone can feel like a real space explorer: put on an astronaut's backpack, try to climb into a vertical sleeping bag, take a seat in the seat of the Soyuz descent vehicle.

Would you like to see a piece of real rock from the Moon, launch a water rocket, learn about the famous Hubble telescope, walk around Mars? Come for all these extraordinary adventures at the Space City Theme Park.

Augustinian Museum

The Augustinian Museum is located on the territory of the monastery, secularized in 1793. This museum exhibits an extensive collection of paintings and sculptures ranging from the Middle Ages to the early 20th century. The core of the museum collection was formed primarily through the confiscation of church property during the bourgeois revolution. Gifts from private collectors also played a significant role.

The Toulouse Augustinian Museum was one of the fifteen museums established in the centers of the provinces in accordance with the decree of 13 fructidore, 9 of the French republican calendar (corresponding to August 31, 1801). Jean-Antoine Sheptal played an important role in the arrangement of the museum. He was so inspired by the organization of space that each collection was presented from an interesting side, emphasizing the diversity of painters and schools. In 1811, the collection of the Augustinian Museum was replenished with works by Pietro, Perugino, Rubens and other famous masters.

Museum Saint-Raymond

The Saint-Reymond Museum is located in historical building medieval University of Toulouse - one of the few remaining medieval buildings. In 1523, the building was built under the direction of the architect Louis Privat. At that time, a college was located here, in which students who came to Toulouse from different regions to study law, theology, and medicine lived. In 1836, the city government purchased the building of the former college. In 1852-1853, when the area around the Saint-Sernin Basilica was being developed, the college building was the only one that escaped destruction. In 1868-1871, large-scale restoration work was carried out here, and two decades later, in 1891, the Saint-Reymond Museum was located here.

Channel of the Two Seas

The Languedoc Canal (Canal du Midi) connects the Garonne River with Lake Etang de Tho, thus creating the so-called Canal of the Two Seas. The canal is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as a monument to French engineers who have done a truly titanic work. At the peak of construction, twelve thousand workers were working on the canal, a thousand of whom were women.

The Languedoc Canal took sixteen years to build and was opened in 1681. Its construction was extremely important for France from a strategic point of view. In those days, in order to go to the Atlantic or the Mediterranean Sea, ships had to spend more than a month. At the same time, the ships were often attacked by Spain and pirates.

The Languedoc Canal is still in operation today. Throughout the channel, 91 gateways are working properly.

Cathedral in Toulouse

The inhabitants of Toulouse jokingly call the Cathedral of St. Etienne "an unfinished cathedral". The reason for this nickname was the very history of the cathedral, the construction of which lasted for several centuries. Some researchers believe that the modern cathedral is located on the site of a chapel built back in the 3rd century, but there is no evidence for this - no excavations have been carried out at this site. The second version says that an ancient church of the beginning of the 9th century was located here, but no traces of it have yet been found.

The construction of the Cathedral of Saint Etienne continued from the 11th to the 17th centuries, but some architectural elements and remained unfinished due to a banal lack of funds. The asymmetrical western pediment was formed due to the fact that the cathedral was built by combining two unfinished churches. One of them dates back to the 13th century and is characterized by a massive stained-glass rose window. The second church began to be built in 1272, but soon the construction stopped and was abandoned until 1445. These two structures were connected by a portal made in the Gothic style.

Inside the cathedral there is an interesting collection of tapestries from the 16th-17th centuries, which tells about the life of Saint Etienne. On the site in front of the cathedral is a fountain built in the 16th century, it is considered the oldest in France.

The most popular attractions in Toulouse with descriptions and photos for every taste. Choose the best places to visit famous places Toulouse on our site.

Toulouse- a city located in the southern part. It is a major cultural, scientific and industrial centre countries. The population of the city with all adjacent territories is approximately 425 thousand people. According to this indicator, Toulouse is second only to, and. The city is located on the banks of the Garonne River. The distance from Toulouse to the Mediterranean Sea is about 150 kilometers, and up to Atlantic Ocean- 250 kilometers. In Toulouse, in addition to French, the Occitan dialect is widespread. Even the street names are written in two languages. Toulouse is known all over the world as the "pink city" because of the color of the bricks from which the buildings are built.

Toulouse - video

There are quite a lot of higher educational institutions in the city, such as, for example, the three Universities of Toulouse, the National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse and the Higher School of Fine Arts. There are more than 110 thousand students here. In Toulouse there are aviation construction enterprises (the world famous Airbus and Ariane), biochemical, electronic and information technology industries. Since the beginning of the 90s of the last century, a subway has been opened in Toulouse. The city also has the Stadio Municipal, which is the main stadium of Toulouse Football Club.

Attractions Toulouse

An important attraction of Toulouse is one of the largest gardens in Europe - It is located near the Young Ladies' Bridge and the Languedoc Canal in the southeastern part of the city. During the history of its existence, it was moved around the city twice. At present, a great variety of plants grow in the garden, both characteristic of local weather conditions, and exotic, among which you can find quite a lot of rare and medicinal ones.

Another attraction is the building built in the 12th century as the seat of the city government. In the XVIII century, the Capitol was completed by the architect Guillaume Gammas in the neoclassical style. All buildings are made of pink brick. The height of the facade of the Capitol is approximately 135 meters. Now the city administration is located here.

Basilica of Saint Sernin- the most famous landmark of Toulouse and, at the same time, the largest church in the world, made in the Romanesque style. The basilica was built in the 11th century as a staging post for pilgrims on their way to.

water castle is the name of the water tower, which in the old days served to store water reserves for the entire city. Now the tower houses photo galleries, which feature thousands of photographs of various art forms. The tower was built in the year that the world's first photograph was invented.

new bridge- this is the name of the bridge about 220 meters long across the Garonne River, built in the 17th century and consisting of seven arches, which, according to the idea of ​​the engineers of that time, should be decorated with a tiger head with a lush mane. Later, a triumphal arch was completed on the bridge, which was dismantled in 1860, as it impeded traffic.

Cathedral of Saint Etienne It was built over six centuries (from the 11th to the 17th centuries) and even despite this, some of its parts have remained unfinished to this day. The building of the cathedral is asymmetrical - this fact is explained by the fact that it consists of two unfinished churches, united by a portal in the Gothic style. Currently, the Cathedral of Saint Etienne has a collection of tapestries from the 16th-17th centuries, and in front of the building is the oldest fountain in the entire territory.

1. A trip to Toulouse in its cost can be compared with tours to or China - it won’t “hit the pocket” of tourists very noticeably. Some travelers believe that traveling around the province of the country allows them to get to know it better.

2. Toulouse is one of the centers of the aircraft industry in France. There is a so-called Space City, a walk around which will be interesting even for people who are far from aviation.

3. In Toulouse, compared to other cities in France, there are quite a lot of people without a fixed place of residence, and this is very striking. There are also a lot of stray dogs that run through the streets of the city without obstacles, which, of course, is a significant drawback.

4. A fairly popular form of transport in Toulouse are bicycles, which at any time, anyone can rent at specialized rental points. There are many such bicycle rental points in the city - they are located about 200 meters from one another.

5. The most favorable period for traveling to Toulouse is the end of spring - the beginning of summer, when violets bloom here, which are most often used for the production of cosmetics and perfumes. These flowers are also used for the so-called "violet jam", which is very popular among both the local population and guests of the city. The violet is even the symbol of Toulouse. In February, the city hosts a festival of violets. According to eyewitnesses - an impressive sight.

6. A special steam locomotive runs through the streets of Toulouse for excursions. You can see everything memorable places city, sitting in a comfortable carriage. If you have a desire to go out and take a walk, you can do it at one of the stops of the locomotive. Such a tour of Toulouse on this moment costs 5 euros, and it lasts a little more than half an hour.

7. There is a problem with car parking in the city due to the fact that the streets are very narrow. Therefore, it is very high prices to parking spaces. The speed in the city is limited to 50 km/h.

8. In Toulouse, you can often see fast food establishments, as it is considered a student city, and students prefer to eat mainly sandwiches. In general, tourists here will not have any difficulties with lunch - there are many different inexpensive cafes for this.

9. Tourists who like to shop should know that there is a clothing market on Place du Capitole in Toulouse where you can buy whatever you want. And on weekends, a flea market is open next to the Saint-Sernin church.

10. If you prefer to travel around Toulouse by metro, then pay attention to the fact that there are two branches here: line A, which runs from north to south, and line B, which runs from northeast to southwest.