The capital of the
Midi-Pyrenees region in southwest France, Toulouse, the
‘Pink City’ (thus named because of the color of the brick many of its buildings are made of), is a city at the crossroad between
tradition and
modernity.
A
Roman town from 120-100BC and the capital of the
Visigoth empire in the fifth century, it then passed into the domain of the Francs and
resisted Arab conquests. After Charlemagne, it was governed by counts, but its distance from the seat of power gave it a large
degree of independence.
From the ninth to
the 13th centuries, Toulouse was the seat of one of the most beautiful courts of Europe, one where
refinement flourished and
local influences took hold (among them the development of the literature of the Langue d’Oc, the tradition of the troubadors, and so on).
This
rich heritage can be seen on every street corner in Toulouse, from magnificent Roman and gothic
churches to
hotels particuliers (
private mansions) dating back to the 16th century and
fascinating museums and
archaeological sites.
Today this
modern city counts almost 500,000 inhabitants and is driven by its leading
aeronautical industry and
‘sky tourism’ (the
Cité de l’Espace is one of Toulouse’s most popular attractions). Toulouse has a
big student population (the second in France after Paris), and this means it is a youthful, energetic city with a
vibrant nightlife.
Toulouse is also a
green city to live in, with many parks, gardens and squares in which to enjoy its
warm Mediterranean sunshine (over 2,000 hours a year on average). Going for a stroll along the
River Garonne, or for a cycle along the
Canal du Midi maybe, are great ways to spend an afternoon before tucking into some of the
hearty local cuisine.
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Related France Content
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
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