Toulouse is situated in the Haute-Garonne department of the Midi-Pyrénées region of France, about 180 miles from the Atlantic Ocean, about 90 miles from the Mediterranean, and 360 miles from Paris. With a population of over 400,000 in the city itself and over 1.2 million in the metropolitan area, Toulouse is both the fourth-largest city and the fourth-largest metropolitan area in France, after Paris, Lyon, and Marseille. Toulouse is perhaps most famous for its role in the French aeronautics industry: it is the site of the headquarters of airplane manufacturer Airbus and the Toulouse Space Center, one of two command centers for CNES (“the NASA of France”) and the largest aerospace facility in Europe. Not surprisingly, Toulouse is also a university town, with several technology schools and research centers, as well as the world-renowned University of Toulouse, one of the oldest universities in the world. With about 125,000 students in residence, Toulouse boasts the third largest student population in France after Paris and Lyon. Based on my personal experience during that short weekend visit, I can attest to the fact that you can’t swing a baguette in Toulouse without hitting a 19-year-old college student!
The history of Toulouse did not end in the 1200s, of course, but it was the end of Toulouse as a country independent of France. It’s also the period of the city’s rich history that was most evident (and most interesting) to me during my brief visit. For background on the more recent history of Toulouse, though, you can click here.
A typical side street. See why it’s called “la ville rose”?
The Pont Neuf. Like the Pont Neuf in Paris, it is now the oldest bridge in town.
Access to Toulouse from Paris is easy. Air France operates several flights a day at very reasonable fares, and flight time is only about an hour. Transportation from the Toulouse-Blagnac Airport is quick and efficient on the regional bus/tram/subway system, Tisseo. You can get one-, two- or three-day passes at the airport to get into and around town during your stay. Once downtown, though, you’ll discover that the historic city center is quite walkable.
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Great Title Michael!!! Wonderful history – a whole bunch of stuff we didn’t know, so THANK you….once again! You know, don’t you , that you can come down SOUTH for FREE and STAY with us – if you don’t mind being really in close quarters?!?!?! I ‘m serious…….David says – come on down M & M!!!!!!!