Car Hire Toulouse - Mini guide to Toulouse
The home of the French aviation and space industry, Toulouse is a university town full of historical architecture, acclaimed museums and marvelous edutainment attractions, making it a popular destination for the whole family.
The historic town centre of Ville Rose contains much of Toulouse’s heritage. The Capitole, located on the square of the same name, has been the seat of Toulouse's city government since the 12th century. The original walls were covered by an ornate pink and white 18th century facade of columns and pilasters, and inside you can see the Salle des Illustres and other interesting rooms covered in somewhat gaudy late 19th century murals and some Impressionist works by Henri Martin. West of Place du Capitole, is the massive fortress-like 13th century Church of the Jacobins. Adjacent is an art exhibition hall, while nearby is the magnificent Renaissance mansion, the Hôtel de Bernuy. North of Place du Capitole, is Notre-Dame-du-Taur, and the largest Romanesque church in France, the Basilica of St-Sernin. Noteworthy museums in the area include the Musée St-Raymond and the Musée des Augustins.
Elsewhere in the town lie other attractions such as the Rue Croix-Baragon, Place St-Étienne, the Griffoul, the Cathedral of St-Étienne, the Musée Paul-Dupuy, the Pont-Neuf, and the St-Cyprien quarter.
Fun for the whole family, the high-tech amusement park of the Cité de l'Espace enthralls with its space theme, and includes the opportunity to walk inside a mock-up of the Mir space station. Many of the exhibits are interactive and offer many insights into the world of space exploration. With planning, a tour of the Aerospatiale complex can also be arranged.
Toulouse is a perfect base for exploring any destination in the southwest of France. Of the immediately surrounding places, Albi is spectacular, with its highly original cathedral and comprehensive collection of Toulouse-Lautrec paintings. Further afield is the authentic medieval town of Cordes.
Toulouse International Airport serves direct flights from many cities, and shuttle services into the town are both frequent and reliable.
