Discover Toulouse
Accommodation in Toulouse
When looking for a hotel in Toulouse, you can start by considering which themes you want to shape your stay: architecture, historical collections, space exploration, green spaces or regional produce. The city’s attractions offer a range of ways to explore them. From buildings with a long history to exhibitions about astronomy, there is plenty to choose from, and you don’t have to limit your stay to a single theme.
Architectural history and religious heritage
The Capitole has a history spanning more than eight centuries. The Couvent des Jacobins offers a different historical perspective: the Dominicans built the monastery between 1230 and 1385. One of its most striking features is the nave, divided into two sections, with its famous palm-shaped vaulting, the Palmier des Jacobins. The construction period and unusual vault design give your visit a clear architectural focus.
The Couvent des Jacobins also hosts concerts, festivals in the cloister and exhibitions in the former refectory. As the cultural programme changes over time, it is a good idea to check what is on before your visit. This makes it possible to appreciate the historic complex through its current cultural offerings as well.
Saint-Sernin combines religious significance with Romanesque architecture. The 11th-century basilica is built of brick and stone. Saint-Sernin is also considered an important pilgrimage site on the French routes of the Way of St James to Santiago de Compostela. If you are interested in pilgrimage, you will find a connection to the routes of the Way of St James here; if architecture is your main interest, you can focus on the Romanesque style and the materials used.
Roman history at the Musée Saint-Raymond
The Musée Saint-Raymond houses almost 1,000 Roman sculptures that illustrate the lives of the Celts and Romans in the Toulouse region. The basement also contains remains of the Saint-Sernin necropolis, along with numerous funerary artworks from Roman antiquity and the Early Middle Ages. The collections thus offer two perspectives: the sculptures convey regional ways of life, while the finds from the necropolis highlight burial customs and funerary art. The period covered ranges from Roman antiquity to the Early Middle Ages.
Space exploration and astronomy
The Cité de l'espace is a science theme park dedicated to space exploration and astronomy. Its more than 250 exhibits include moon rock, genuine modules from the MIR space station and a scale model of the Ariane 5. There are permanent and temporary exhibitions across around 4,000 m², as well as an IMAX cinema, two planetariums and an astronomy dome. The focus is on both real objects from space exploration and different ways of sharing knowledge. Individual installations may change, so it is worth checking what is currently on offer before your visit.
Botanical species and food crops
The Jardin des Plantes features around a hundred botanical species. Activities on offer include a children’s carousel, a small railway, bicycle hire and pony rides; availability may vary. The Jardins du Muséum, surrounding the pond at La Maourine in the Borderouge district, offer a place to discover nature. At the Potagers du Monde, almost 700 varieties of food crops, fruit and vegetables are grown and displayed, including rare plants.
Canal du Midi and Marché couvert Victor Hugo
The Canal du Midi is a historic canal running through Toulouse and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Marché couvert Victor Hugo is located in the heart of the city’s remarkable heritage area. Its offerings bring together different elements: regional products are sold on the ground floor, while the restaurants on the first floor showcase them. You can explore the market both for its location in the heritage area and for the connection between regional products and gastronomy.
Discover more destinations: Maurens, Calmont, Bessières, Castillon-De-Larboust, Montgiscard, Labège, Lherm, Revel
For the broader travel overview: Haute-Garonne.
