Toulouse’s Top Five Visitor Attractions
Located between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic coast, Toulouse is an eclectic mix of the past and present. Rich in history and architecture, Toulouse is also a centre for cutting-edge European technology and plays a central role in the European Space Programme. Space City (City de l’Espace) therefore makes a good number one in the list of top five Toulouse attractions. Situated in the east of the city the purpose of Space City is to aid learning, and the interactive activities on offer allow you to discover a whole new world of life and experiences in orbit. You can view life-sized replicas of wonders such as the Mir Space Station, journey to the centre of the earth and travel 4.5 billion years back in time with the help of state-of-the-art technology. You can even try your hand at launching a satellite and docking your own space shuttle.
In at number two is the opera house Thtre du Capitole, one of the most prestigious of its kind in the whole of France. Dating back for more than four centuries, this building houses a varied array of opera, ballets, chamber music and recitals which will be music to the ears of all arts and culture lovers out there. Get dressed in your glad rags for a glamorous night out at an internationally acclaimed venue and enjoy the opus as it unfolds before you. Arts lovers will also be astounded by fine arts museum Mus?e des Augustins, which is housed in a majestic 14th-century former Augustinian monastery situated in the historical heart of Toulouse. The museum is home to a wide range of painting and sculptures dating from the Middle Ages to the beginning of the 20th century.
Alongside the masterpieces of the French and European schools of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries the museum also displays a superb 19th century collection. The variety of the exhibitions on display is exemplary of the vivacity of artistic life in Toulouse that is still prevalent to the present day. Moving on to landmarks, the church of Basilique St-Sernin is a sight worth visiting. Constructed of brick and stone the church stands proudly in Toulouse’s old town and is the largest Romanesque building in the Western world. Created in the second half of the 16th century the building itself has been virtually unaltered in the last 1000 years so you can see a fine example of authentic architecture for yourself and inside you can peruse an exceptional array of holy relics, tombs and sepulchres.
Last but not least is the Church of The Jacobins (Glise des Jacobins), another distinctive landmark which is to be found in the old town. This elegant 13th century Gothic building is the resting place of Saint Thomas d’Aquin, as well as world famous theologian and philosopher Christian Aristotle. A well situated airport means flights-to-Toulouse will have you near the city centre in no time and you can then begin your exploration of France’s cultural and industrial powerhouse. The information contained within this article is the opinion of the author and is intended purely for information and interest purposes only. It should not be used to make any decisions or take any actions. Any links are included for information purposes only.
