France. Toulouse. Western Europe. Travel
The First 48 Hours in a New City are Always the Most Exciting!
My first impression of Toulouse, the South West of France
I love arriving in a new city! It’s the best feeling for me as a traveler because all the hard work is done, the planning, the packing, saying goodbye, and the transition through the airport.
At this point, it’s pure adventure. Everything is new and exciting again. The loneliness of leaving the familiar seems to fade away fast. There’s too much to focus on.
So, here I am now, in Toulouse.
On day one, I took a walk around and quickly stumbled upon some of the most significant historical sites. As I was staying centrally, I knew everything was close by.
Toulouse is France’s fourth-largest metropolis and a major industrial and university city. The area is also famous for its aerospace industry (Concorde, Airbus, and the Ariane space rocket all originated here).
The first place of interest I came to was the basilica of Saint Sernin.
Basilica Saint Sernin
Basilique St-Sernin is the largest Romanesque basilica in Europe. The basilica was built in honor of a martyr saint Saturnin, the first bishop and martyr of Toulouse who lived in the first half of the 3rd century. In the 5th century, a modest basilica was built.
The popularity of the martyr grew which is why this present basilica was built in the 11th-12th centuries to accommodate pilgrims.
The North Facade of the Basilica
The basilica is now an essential stopping point on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route with thousands of people visiting each year.
Iconography
Inside the basilica was this beautiful icon of the Virgin Mary.
“Christian art features Christian iconography, prominently developed in the medieval era and renaissance, and is a prominent aspect of Christian media.”
I took a lot of photos here. It was hard to resist as the place is so beautiful. I am always fascinated by the work in the churches across Europe.
To me, it shows a time of faith and devotion to God. Of course, a lot of it was about power too, but I believe the craftmanship was a labour of love.
On my second day, I went to the city again. The weather was better, although I enjoyed the rain too as it’s quite hot here — between 28 and 30 degrees.
Place du Capitole /Le Capitole (Town Hall)
The hub of Toulouse life is the Place du Capitole. This town square showcases the classic architecture of Toulouse.
The Capitole was named after the old chapter of magistrates (capitouls) who once met here and it is now the Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall).
Toulouse is best seen on foot. It has fine cuisine, lively street life due to the high student population, and a beautiful rose brick Old Town which as the French say is, “pink at dawn, red at noon, and mauve at dusk.”
Couvent des Jacobins
Hidden in the high walls of this church is the first large Dominican priory in Toulouse. It was built in the 13th century for friars whose mission was centered on preaching.
They are the Order of Preachers. In French, Orden de predicadores.Today the convent is listed as a historic monument.
If you need a quiet city oasis, this Dominican monastery, dating from 1229, with wonderful views of its southern-French gothic architecture is a good place to stop.
The church is a Gothic masterpiece
This church was begun in 1229 and completed over the next two centuries.
The Pont Neuf
The River Garonne crossed by the Pont Neuf
Although the name translates as ‘new bridge’, Pont Neuf was completed in the early 17th century and is famously the oldest bridge in the city, with fine views along the Garonne River.
Jardin Japonis
Known as the Pierre Baudis Japanese garden, with its bright red cartwheel bridge, stone garden, and tea pavilion is a nice way to spend a few hours.
Canal du Midi
The canal runs from the city of Toulouse down to the Mediterranean port of Sète near Marseille. It was built in 1667 and is 240-kilometer-long.
For tourists, one of the most enjoyable things to do in Toulouse is strolling along the shaded canal-side path. It’s a great way to take in the scenery and enjoy the city’s relaxing ambiance.
Cite de L’espace
This space-themed museum is just outside the city and includes two planetariums, interactive exhibits related to space exploration, and an Imax cinema.
I didn’t get time to visit Cite de L’espace, but I believe it is worth a visit.
Final thoughts —
Although Toulouse has plenty to offer in terms of culture and restaurants, I was disappointed to see that there were not many cafes as I’ve always associated France with cafes.
Toulouse is a nice city to walk around. I especially enjoyed walking along the Canal du Midi. It’s a great way to see the city while staying cool in the shade.
To get to know any city, you have to stay a while. The people in Toulouse were pleasant, but not overly friendly, so although I’d recommend it as a place to visit, I must admit it didn't excite me as a potential place to live.
However, I did hear that not far outside the city are some beautiful places to visit. I think next time I visit the south of France, I would like to drive so I can see the small towns and countryside outside of the big cities.
France is an amazing country to visit. You must put it on your travel list!
