Toulouse, France — Activities
Toulouse Culture
Tickets for most events are available from the venues themselves or from Box Office, 8 place de la Trinité (tel: (05) 3431 10008; website: www.boxoffice.fr/accueil.php) or Fnac, place Wilson (tel: (05) 6111 0130/01).
Music: Théâtre du Capitole, place du Capitole (tel: (05) 6163 1313; website: www.theater-du-capitole.org), is Toulouse’s longest established music venue, while the hexagonal Halle aux Grains, place Dupuy (tel: (05) 6163 1313), is home to the much acclaimed Orchestre National du Capitole (website: www.onct.mairie-toulouse.fr).
Theater: The new Théâtre National de Toulouse (TNT), 1 rue Pierre Baudis (tel: (05)3445 0505; website: www.tnt-cite.com), is the main venue for theater and dance. Theater de la Digue, 3 rue de la Digue (tel: (05) 6142 9779; website: www.ladigue.org), stages mainly modern productions. Théâtre Garonne, 1 avenue du Château d’Eau (tel: (05) 6248 5656; website: www.theatergaronne.com), is the place for theater and dance, modern and classic, while Théâtre du Grand Rond, 23 rue des Potiers (tel: (05) 6162 1485; website: http://grand.rond.free.fr), draws a mixed crowd with its varied program.
Dance: Ballet du Capitole regularly performs at the Théâtre du Capitole, place du Capitole (tel: (05) 6163 1313; website: www.theater-du-capitole.org). The Center de Développement Chorégraphique, 5 avenue Etienne-Billières (tel: (05) 6159 9878; website: www.cdctoulouse.com), specializes in modern productions.
Film: Founded in the 1950s, La Cinémathèque de Toulouse, 69 rue du Taur (tel: (05) 6230 3010; website: www.lacinemathequedetoulouse.com), is still the meeting place for cinema lovers. Other cinemas include the ABC, 13 rue St-Bernard (tel: (05) 6129 8100 or 0892 680 143; website: www.abc-toulouse.net); Gaumont Wilson, place Wilson (tel: 0892 696 696; website: www.gaumont.fr); and UGC, 9 allées Franklin Roosevelt (tel: 0892 700 700; website: www.ugc.fr). For art house movies, check out Utopia, 4 rue Montardy (tel: (05) 6121 2211; website: www.cinemas-utopia.org).
Toulouse Tours
The tourist office (tel: (05) 6111 0222; website: www.toulouse-tourisme.com)organizes guided heritage tours in the historic heart of the city. Some are walking tours, others by coach. The ‘Historic Monuments and Homes’ tour is currently the only one conducted in English. French speakers have more options.
Les Bateaux Toulousains (tel: (05) 6180 2226; website: www.bateaux-toulousains.com) organize cruises on the Garonne River and on the Canal du Midi onboard the Baladine, a converted barge, throughout the year. ToulouseCroisières (tel: (05) 6125 7257; website: www.toulouse-croisieres.com) offers a similar service onboard a bateau-mouche.
