Toulouse

France's "Pink City", where red-brick buildings line the Garonne, Airbus headquarters and the Cité de l'espace make it the capital of aerospace, and the Basilica of Saint-Sernin and the Canal du Midi are World Heritage Sites.

Toulouse is the capital of the Occitanie region in southwestern France and the country's fourth-largest city. Set on the Garonne river, it is called "La Ville Rose" (the Pink City) for the pinkish brick used throughout the old town. It is also Europe's aerospace capital, home to Airbus headquarters and the French space agency CNES. The main sights are concentrated in the old town on the right bank of the Garonne: the Place du Capitole, the Basilica of Saint-Sernin, the Couvent des Jacobins, the Hôtel d'Assézat, the Quai de la Daurade and the Pont Neuf are all within a 15-minute walk. On the left bank are the Prairie des Filtres park, Les Abattoirs museum and the Dôme de La Grave. In the suburbs you'll find the Cité de l'espace, the Aeroscopia aviation museum with Airbus factory tours, and the Halle de La Machine. The Canal du Midi runs through the city and can be explored by bike or boat. Top day trips are the Episcopal City of Albi (about 1 hour by train) and the hilltop village of Cordes-sur-Ciel, and you can also visit Moissac Abbey; the walled city of Carcassonne is covered as a separate destination. The best seasons are Apr–Jun and Sep–Oct; summers are hot, and February brings the Violet Festival. Toulouse-Blagnac Airport has flights from across Europe, and the TGV from Paris takes about 4.5 hours. The city has two metro lines and trams, and the old town is easily walkable. Plan on 2–3 days; Airbus tours must be booked several weeks in advance, and you'll need to bring your passport. Don't miss cassoulet, Toulouse sausage and violet candies.

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