Toulouse, a beautiful city built in brick rose is gently cradled by the waters of the Garonne and the Canal du Midi and its monastic atmosphere each year attracts more tourists who discover it as a tourist destination for a romantic getaway, a week of rest or annual leave .
Toulouse is the second university in importance and prestige of France, is the home of Airbus, rugby and energy is overwhelming.
Its historical and cultural heritage has attracted attention as educational attainment, sporting or industrial but are of surprising richness.
Among its buildings of pink and red bricks, we can discover its wonders as Capitole, the Basilica Saint Sernin and the old school building next to Saint Raymond, or the imposing monastery of the Jacobins and the magnificent private mansions.
Toulouse attractions ranging from the museum that houses the religious legacy of the Augustinian Order of the amazing “Space City”, will all find the way to satisfy our curiosity and delight in seeing what will not find at home.
Toulouse’s history dates back to the fourth century BC when it was a small village inhabited by the Volques Tectosages, a Celtic people originally from central Europe. During the second and third centuries BC was dominated by the Romans who called it “Tolosa” the name also was known to the Spanish city but fell into disuse in favor of the original names of major cities.
Bishop St. Sernin (San Saturnino in Spanish) was the pioneer in the evangelization of the city and was martyred becoming a prominent figure in the city, we see not only the Basilica of St. Sernin but also various monuments erected in his honor.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Visigoths seized the region and Toulouse named capital of the kingdom. In the sixth century, the city was annexed to the kingdom of Clovis. The dynasty of the Counts of Toulouse came three centuries later with Raymonde I. This dynasty founded the “Capitol” and named the “Capitouls”-counselors of state for administration of the region between the rich merchants and burghers of the city. To symbolize these counselors appointment one or more towers built in their homes and can still be seen, are the famous “Hotel” in Toulouse.
In the eleventh century crisis erupted the Cathars, a part of the local bourgeoisie joined this new doctrine and the divisions were accentuated. The murder of his deputy pushed the Pope Innocent III launched the Albigensian Crusade. The king in turn sent troops under Simon de Montfort who was killed under the walls of Toulouse in 1218. After 10 years of fighting, the Treaty of Paris of 1229 ended the conflict.
Toulouse County maintained its independence over time and in 1271 was annexed to the royal domain. At the same time the city established the foundations of their first university and began to establish itself as an intellectual center rivaling Paris.
In the fifteenth century with the development of international trade, the merchants are significantly enriched Toulouse built beautiful houses and “mansions” that even today we can admire.
Toulouse did not escape the plagues and epidemics of the seventeenth century, however, built the Canal du Midi, a masterpiece of engineering is now a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. For a long time it looked the way of uniting the Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea in order to avoid sailing near the Spanish coast, storms and successive attacks on ships loaded with goods. This channel leads to the Port de l’Embocouchure like Brienne canal that connects the Garonne River and one of its tributaries to the Atlantic Ocean.
The accelerated urbanization of Toulouse in the nineteenth century, grand boulevards were constructed, the station Matabiau and the outbreak of the First World War began to develop the aviation industry is now pride of Toulouse.
Began shortly after the waves of immigrants, refugees from fascism and war in Algeria mainly the population that grew progressively and led to Toulouse to be the fourth most densely populated city of France.
Travel to Toulouse by plane is very convenient because its airport the “Toulouse-Blagnac” is just 8 kilometers from the city center and receives international and domestic flights of large companies, but also charter flights and low cost . We move to the center of Toulouse using the private service of mini buses or taxis or use the bus leaves from platform 2 with a frequency of 20 minutes from 7.35 to 0.15h, the fare is 4 adults & euro, under 3.20 & euro 25 years and we consider 20 minutes to get downtown. The cab has a cost differential of 22 & euro during the day and 25 & euro overnight.
If we travel by train, the train station “Gare Matabiau” receives high-speed trains, trains specially designed for tourists and families as “Corail Téoz” where you can take bicycles and has a special space for children and trains transporting the car to combine a trip rested on one side and the possibility of having our own car to travel around. The train station is located in the center of Toulouse, just opposite the famous Canal du Midi. Next to the train station is the bus station to the buses coming from all regions of France and Europe.
To travel to Toulouse by car must find the motorways: A61 (Carcassonne, Montpellier, Barcelona), A62 (Montauban, Agen, Bordeaux, Limoges, Paris), A64 (Foix, Lourdes, Bayonne, San-Sebastian), A68 (Lavaur, Albi) or A66 (Pamiers, Foix, Andorra) and we know that parking in the downtown area is regulated by parking meters from 9 to 20pm at a cost of 0.20 & euro & euro 0.50, 1.50 & euro & euro 2 and 3 & euro for periods of 8, 20, 60, 90 and 120 minutes respectively.
The city’s public transport is excellent and is made up of an efficient network of buses, two metro lines and a commuter between Colomieres and Arenes with a time of 5.15 to 24, extending on Fridays and Saturdays until 0.40h. If our stay is going to continue for at least a week and if we are students or under 26, a magnetic card for public transportation is sold via the Internet at a very convenient. Electric mini buses called “Navette” in the city center, have a frequency of 15 ‘, made a circular route through the center of the city along: Cours Dillon, Pont Neuf, Cannes, Place Wilson and the University of Sciences Social and free of charge, your schedule runs from 9 am until 19 pm.
The council also facilitates auto bicycle (“voile” in French) with rental stations every 300 meters. We take it one season and leave it in another. Payment is by credit or credit card. The payment may be short or long periods in the first case costs 1 euro or 5 & & euro for a day or a week, and the second 10 & euro for a month. The bike rental is free for half an hour, costing 0.50 & euro the second half hour, 1 & euro until the second hour, 1.50 & euro if we fertilize throughout the day.
Like any college town and outstanding in sports, Toulouse has to stay when the undoubted advantage of the offer, from the sumptuous and dazzling hotels to hostels or guest houses cheaper, but the hotel capacity is the average standard filled if the city receives an event of magnitude. It is convenient to know if our stay will coincide with an event and make reservations in advance. Hotels in Toulouse are the big chains, hotels of all stars, no stars hotels, residential of all categories from the highest category to hostels for migrant workers, private accommodation, apartments for rent, homes for young and students to campsites with amazing infrastructure where we enjoy all the amenities.
Toulouse is suitable for all types of holiday you pretend, from a romantic getaway for two or three days to a well deserved break around and knowing the city in two or three visits. We have pleasant strolls along the course of the Garonne and knowing their buildings day after day let us marvel at their alleys to the discovery of the mansions built during the XVI and XVII.
As tourists come to Toulouse to rush to its emblem, the famous Capitole and its square, but soon discovered that the “pink city” hides many other places and magnificent monuments.
Toulouse museums have been installed in most prestigious buildings in the city. The former Convent of the Augustinians, built in the fifteenth century, the former Saint Raymond School, dating from the sixteenth century are now museums, like the Hotel d’Assézat featuring the private collection of the Bemberg Foundation.
The itinerary followed by tourists who visit Toulouse is one that takes as its point of departure the famous Capitole (Capitol), which today houses the City Hall and National Theatre Capitole.
If traveling by car, on the square is a park where we can leave the car while visiting the city on foot.
After admiring the outside of the “Capitole”, dating from the eighteenth century, a beautiful ocher, with the inscription “Capitolium” and eight pink marble columns symbolizing the eight councilors or “capitouls” appointed by the Count to manage County, across the porch and found the patio we Henri IV and the Hall of Distinguished (Salle des Illustres) with busts of the most famous Toulouse. Open from April to November, Monday to Friday from 8.30 to 19h and Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 19pm. From November to March open from 9 to 17h. Free admission. Behind the building on the Capitol grounds is the old Tower of Homage or files, built in the sixteenth century when counselors or “capitouls” ran the county. Today it houses the Tourist Office.
Following our tour of the rue du Taur got to the church of Notre Dame du Taur, built in the fourteenth century in honor of the saint, supposedly in the same place where he was martyred in 250. Open Monday to Friday from 14 to 19h, on Saturday from 9 to 12 and 14 to 19.30 and Sundays from 9 to 13h. Free admission.
Beside the church is the Saint Raymond Museum and at the end of the street is the Basilica of Saint Sernin. Returning to the street to rue du Périgord is the Convent of the Carmelites, building dating from the sixteenth century and retains a remarkable decorated chapel, the rest of the convent is back as the original was destroyed during the Revolution. Open daily from 10 to 12h and from 14 to 18h. Free admission. We end our tour with a drink in the Place Saint Georges, one of the places to see and be seen preferred by Toulouse.
Starting from the rue du Languedoc, at the height of the parking area of Cannes, are on one side, at No. 36 L ‘Hotel du Vieux Raisin, Renaissance-style building dating from 1515 built by the counselor Berenguier Maynier, entering your yard we see an exquisite decoration in which the statues that adorn the windows, to the left of the door frame the two angels family crest. Going up the rue d’Assuragues, at No. 9, rue Ozenne is the Hotel de Dahaus, is easily recognized by its tower topped by a tower built in the sixteenth century, on the front, two lions up the shield of the family. Retracing our steps, taking the rue des Cannes, then the rue des Pretres and rue Saint-Jean, turning left into the rue de la Dalbade are several private hotels in the Hotel No. 22 Molinier, in the No. 25 Pierre Hotel and opposite the Hotel des Chevaliers de Saint Jean de Jerusalem, now headquarters of the Order of Malta.
The first of these hotels has a richly decorated gate. The Pierre Hotel, also known as Clary Hotel dates from 1538 and belonged to Nicolas adviser Bagis, its facade dates from the seventeenth century and is of stone, representing a symbol of wealth and power than in a city where the brick was material more economical construction. Returning to the street to the Rue de Metz, on the right is the Hotel d’Assézat, undoubtedly the most beautiful of all. This sixteenth-century private home was built by Nicolas Bachelier for Pierre d’Assézat, a merchant who sadly died before its completion. The architecture follows the style of the Louvre with the superposition of three styles in three levels: Doric, Ionic and Corinthian. Today the Bemberg Foundation holds the structure together with a private museum which houses an art gallery, objects and furniture.
From the Hotel d’Assezat we went to the Hotel de Bernuy now occupied by the Lycée Pierre de Fermat taking the rue de la Bourse first, then the rue du Prieuré and finally turn right on Rue Gambetta. At No. 1 of this street is the Hotel, home of Jean de Bernuy, built in the early sixteenth century by the architect Louis Privat. The door is Gothic and accessing a first courtyard, thence by a covered walkway accessing the second courtyard where you can see the stairs of the tower. Unfortunately you can not visit any more.
Another itinerary must for tourists visiting Toulouse is the walk along the banks of the Garonne and the Canal du Midi. Starting from the Place Saint Pierre, a stronghold of students at nightfall, Lucien Lombard walk the pier where the foliage offers a delightful relaxation during the hot summer days. Here also the houses have their facades in brick. At the end of spring we have an incredible panorama of the Daurade Place, a favorite spot for families Toulouse for a day of recreation. Here was the ancient port of Toulouse and in the Middle Ages was the trading center for excellence. Opposite the park is the imposing Hotel-Dieu and the dome of hospice Grave.
Following our tour of the park dock arrived at the church Notre Dame de la Daurade neoclassical style, we passed along to the School of Fine Arts and arrived at the Pont Neuf, a name that does not honor because it is actually the bridge Old Toulouse, built during the sixteenth century has withstood numerous attacks of the Garonne. We crossed the river by the bridge and right is the castle “Chateau d’Eaux” (water castle), which now houses an exhibition center photo.
The neighborhood of the left bank is the old fishing village and today a lively popular. Turning left on Cours Dillon descend to the Prairie des Filtres park created in the mid 1970′s is named “Prairie Filters” to nineteenth-century sand was used instead to filter and purify water the Garonne who was recovering in the castle is now the center of photographic art.
Do not forget your camera because from the Pont Neuf have a magnificent view of the city and the park Daurade.
If we have breath we get to the old Abattoirs (slaughterhouses) that are now a center for modern and contemporary art.
