Hotels in Toulouse
What to see by foot: Toulouse
 
Toulouse is a vibrant university town at the foot of the spectacular Pyrenees,
and holds a privileged position between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic
coast, in France's southern region.
The enchanting old quarter, known as Ville Rose, is a crooked network of narrow,
medieval labyrinths and pink-brick buildings which explain its name. It is centred
around the place du Capitole, a vast square which is enhanced by its various
cafés and specialty food vendors.
On Wednesdays, the square becomes the venue of an enormous market which offers
food, clothes and other bits of flotsam. On Tuesdays and Saturdays, smaller
organic food markets are held here.
The town hall is an imposing structure with white marble pillars lining its
façade. The Henri-IV Courtyard is enriched by the work of local 19th
century artists, including Henri Martin and Jean-Paul Laurens; while the Hall
of Fame is filled with busts of the city's celebrities. The square is surrounded
by trademark brick buildings and embellished with the symbol of the town's historic
past, the Toulouse Cross.
West of Place du Capitole is the 13th century Church of the Jacobins, an excellent
example of Gothic monastic architecture bearing a distinct resemblance to a
fortress. It is constructed entirely of brick and features a soaring vault which
supports the roof of the choir. Also within the church is the cloister with
its elegant arches, and the refectory, where exhibitions are sometimes held.
Close by and worth a look is the magnificent Renaissance mansion, the Hotel
de Bernuy.
To the north of place du Capitole is the Basilica of St Sernin, which has the
distinction of being the largest remaining Romanesque church in Europe. It dates
back to the 11th and 12th centuries, and takes its name from Saint Saturnin,
a Christian martyr who was tied to a bull and dragged to his death.
The church's external brickwork is phenomenal; also impressive are the two
crypts, the tympanum over the main door which shows Christ's ascension to heaven,
and the 800 sculpted column heads.
For art lovers, there is Musée des Augustins, an old monastery which
has been converted into a museum of fine arts, with paintings and sculptures
ranging from the 14th century to the present.
Selection of hotels in this region:
Mercure St Georges | | Crowne Plaza Toulouse | |
Click below for a
full list of hotels and online booking
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