Toulouse
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Situated at the foot of the Pyrenees mountains in the Garonne valley, Toulouse enjoys a pleasant climate and has managed to preserve sites of incredible natural beauty surrounding the city while incorporating leisure facilities and pathways, making the area particularly delightful to visit. Known as the “Ville Rose”
(Pink City) because of the delicate red-pink hues of its buildings, the city also has an important historical and artistic heritage which continually grows and develops. New additions like the creation of cultural and artistic centers and the organization of international exchanges, festivals, and exhibitions keep the city alive. Close to the border with Spain, Toulouse has the lilting accent and festive atmosphere common to towns in this southern region of France and gladly welcomes visitors to enjoy the tranquil days and frenetic nightlife of the city.


Parks, sport and relaxation

A large number of parks and gardens, situated in the city center or easily accessible by métro or bus, will delight children and their parents. They feature outdoor games for children, refreshment stalls, and lovely walkways. The Jardin Compans-Caffarelli delights the eyes with an attractive Japanese garden and a large lake, while the Prairie des Filtres is the perfect spot to watch competitors cross the finishing line of the Garona river race. Competitors in this unusual race, which takes place at the end of summer, have to complete the 20 km course under their own steam, using non-motorized (generally pedal-powered!) machines. The shady banks of the Vedette Cap d'Ambre for a peaceful cruise as it drifts along the canal’s winding course. With a car, visitors can also explore the Ferme des Cabanes. The Ramée and Place du Capitole in the heart of the city, so they are easily accessible on your own two feet.

Enthusiasts of fine art will adore the Couvent des Jacobins has a remarkable exhibition space and is historically and culturally fascinating in itself. A number of prestigious buildings house wonderful works of art in Toulouse; the exhibitions in the Salle des Illustres, share the beautiful Capitole building with the town hall.

A space for modern and contemporary art, the Garonne is a cultural treasure and is definitively dedicated to modern works. The same can be said for the Galerie Municipale du Château-d'Eau (a gallery of contemporary photography), two must-see attractions for photography enthusiasts.

Small art galleries like the Galerie Jacques Girard also allow you to admire (and sometimes buy) works by lesser-known artists. Given their location in the streets of old Toulouse, these galleries are also the ideal excuse for wandering through the city to discover some of the most picturesque spots.

Certainly not usual but just as stimulating, the Musée Georges-Labit, devoted to Asian and Ancient Egyptian art, are definitely worth a visit.

For those seeking a historical understanding of Toulouse, the Cité de l'Espace, with its full-scale replica of the Ariane space rocket and its special Terr@dome show, is the only one of its kind in France and should definitely not be missed. The Bazacle hydroelectric power station, lets you personally witness the importance of the river in Toulouse.


Cinema

Home to France’s second biggest university, Toulouse is a dynamic city which prides itself on a lively and varied nightlife. Numerous cinemas, including the UGC Toulouse, are situated right in the heart of the city close to the main boulevards and parking. Major multiplex cinemas (Gaumont Labège) fitted with the very latest technology are established in the suburbs and show big-budget movies. Meanwhile, artistic and experimental cinemas in the city center enjoy a devoted following at locations like ABC, Cratère and the Festival Séquence Court-Métrage and the Théâtre Garonne, the Théâtre Jules-Julien. Some venues, including the Théâtre de la Digue, the Théâtre Sorano, the Grenier Théâtre alternate between modern theater productions and traditional classics.

For café-théâtre productions, the most popular venues are the Cave Poésie, Le 57 arts center, Théâtre Le Fil à Plomb, Espace Croix-Baragnon, and the Halle aux Grains and in the Basilique Saint-Sernin, Eglise Saint-Pierre-des-Chartreux) have their own significant role in the classical music scene: at the beginning of autumn they also host the international “Toulouse Les Orgues” festival (Toulouse Organ Festival), as well as much smaller groups of musicians, all of whom enjoy the marvelous acoustics provided by these magnificent stone buildings. The Couvent des Jacobins guards the honor of hosting, each September, the eponymously named piano festival Bikini, Salle Nougaro, Altigone, Odyssud, the Palais des Sports, and the Jazz sur Son 31 festival in October generally welcomes over thirty international artists who perform in the city’s different concert halls.

Much more modest (but no less attractive) are Toulouse’s many bars, which offer live music all year round and welcome performances by regional artists in all styles of music - jazz and blues in particular being long-standing favorites in spots like Dubliner's and Breughel and Capitole, Wilson Square, and the grand boulevards are Toulouse’s nocturnal hot spots, with numerous and well-frequented bars. On Saturday nights, the party goes until dawn, but most bars have to close at 2 a.m. on weeknights: night owls move on into the city nightclubs like Purgatoire. There’s always somewhere to go!