Planned a visit to France? Forget about Paris! Instead, visit this under-rated enchanting Pink City of Toulouse.
Toulouse is the town you need to head to when you visit France, especially if you visit the southern part. Situated in the heart of the South-West region of France, Toulouse is a city of color with its famous pink brick façades, flowery violets and blue pastel color painted in the sky. The treasure of history and beautiful architecture with breathtaking natural landscapes makes Toulouse an exciting and gorgeous place to visit.
If you are not convinced, here are five reasons why you should visit Toulouse.
1. Travel to Space at La Cité de l’Espace and Musée Aeroscopia
Toulouse is also known as the world’s capital of aeronautics so you don’t want to miss the opportunity to conquer space and aircrafts at the Cité de l’Espace and Museum Aeroscopia. At the Cité de l’Espace, you can see the replica of the famous Ariane 5 Rocket and the MIR space station. You could also try the VR simulators to experience how it feels to be an astronaut.
Cité de l'Espace Av. Jean Gonord, 31500 Toulouse, France Tariff: Adult 24.5€ - Child 18€
While at Museum Aeroscopia, it offers an entertaining and interactive exhibition of legendary aircraft. You won’t only see the fuselage of airplanes, but also have the chance to step aboard the legendary aircraft such as Concorde, an Airbus A300B with a glass bottom, and the world’s largest passenger airplane, A380.
Museum Aeroscopia 1 All. André Turcat, 31700 Blagnac, France Tariff: Adult 14€ - Child 11€
2. Taste the Asian Ambience of Jardin Japonais
If you are looking for a place to feel zen, then this Japanese Garden is a good pick. Located in the heart of Compans Caffarelli park, this Japanese garden is surely something you don’t wanna miss during your visit to Toulouse. The decorative elements make the ambience of this garden basically makes you feel like you are not in Europe for a bit of time.
Jardin Japonais Jardin Compans Caffarelli, Bd Lascrosses, 31000 Toulouse, France
3. Marvelous Architecture of the Pink City
Not to mention, the famous “La Ville Rose” or the Pink City of Toulouse gorgeously combines heritage with art. The nickname is given because of the red-bricked façades that can be seen by visitors across the town. As for its architectural styles, buildings in Toulouse have a broad range of style from Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Roman, to Neoclassical. Certainly, this attracts the eyes of people who visit the city and inspire the world through its diverseness.
Read: A Local’s Guide to Toulouse
4. Bonjour Basilique Saint-Sernin
Basilica Saint-Sernin is a well-preserved and largest Romanesque church in France that built between the XI and XIV Centuries in honor of St Saturnin (or Sernin), the first bishop of the city. This monumental site one of the World Heritage by UNESCO where it was built from golden and rose-hued stonework up to the tip of the octagonal bell tower.
Basilica of Saint-Sernin Pl. Saint-Sernin, 31000 Toulouse, France
5. Pink Sunset from Garonne River in the City of Toulouse
Strolling around the Garonne River is definitely in your to-do-list when visiting Toulouse. This is the perfect place to do some activities such as hangout with friends, jog, or ride a bike. From Garonne River, you can perfectly witness a combination of violet and blue in the sky as the sun sets.
Read: 6 Tips for a Gentle Time Visiting Toulouse, France
Wanna visit Toulouse? Don’t forget to book your Tourism Pass!
With a Tourism Pass, you will surely get free entries to all of the sites and museums in the city. What’s more is that there are plenty of guided visits offered for you and unlimited access to tram, metro, bus, and airport shuttle! Head to the official tourism website to secure your pass soon and make your stay in Toulouse be a moment of pure pleasure.
Anyway, you could also check out this link to see more traveling information or ideas for your upcoming holiday or if you have any preferred places already, let me know in the comment section below. À bientôt !
