Toulouse
District Guide
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In Toulouse, it all starts with the Capitol, the very heart of the city. Wandering through the surrounding areas, however, stretching north, east, south, and west to the city boundaries, reveals the life behind that pulse. Through this sort of exploration, the city gradually unveils its many faces, its treasures and contrasts: reminders of the past coexist with modern developments, small quiet streets with busy shopping thoroughfares, lively areas with dormitory suburbs, parks with buildings.
Toulouse’s center
The Capitol
An impressive building with an imposing façade, the Capitole, marks the very heart of the “Ville rose” (pink city). Today it houses the town hall and the Théâtre du Capitole. Its vast square is brought to life by the markets that take place there in the mornings (the main market and the Marché Biologique du Capitole, a market specializing in organic produce), as well as the crowds that meet on the terraces of Toulouse’s best-known cafés throughout the day, such as the Florida. All around, the colorful streets in the old part of the city provide an insight into its rich and vivid past, with their town houses and fountains or pretty squares, museums and churches.
To the North
Arnaud-Bernard, Amidonniers, Saint-Pierre
A picturesque and cosmopolitan area, Arnaud-Bernard owes its distinctive character to its lively nightlife, original boutiques, the nearby university (to the south), and the grand boulevards (to the north). Reaching as far as the Canal du Midi through the vast Jardin Compans-Caffarelli (a park), it’s an area that benefits from the activities that take place in the sports stadium and the surrounding businesses. Towards the west, the pleasant areas of Saint-Pierre and Amidonniers stretch out to meet the Garonne, while it borders on the historic area of Saint-Sernin to the east.
Saint-Sernin and Wilson
Rue du Taur, a partly pedestrianized street, links the Capitol to the magnificent Basilique Saint-Sernin (Saint-Sernin Basilica). Surrounded by old buildings such as the Eglise Notre-Dame-du-Taur (Notre-Dame-du-Taur Church), the Marché aux Puces Saint-Sernin (Saint-Sernin flea market) is a pleasant historic area. Close to big secondary schools, the university, and libraries, it has a large student population and is dotted with specialized bookshops, student cafés like Le 7 place Saint-Sernin, and cultural spots (such as the Musée Archéologique Saint-Raymond - Saint-Raymond archaeological museum -, the Cinémathèque de Toulouse - Toulouse film library - and Cave Poésie). Just beside this neighborhood, the Place Wilson area and its grand boulevards lend a feeling of modernity to the city.
Chalets
A continuation of Saint-Sernin, this is a quiet, prosperous area. You’re bound to see its charming old houses at some point as the main roads (Lascrosses, Arcole, and Lazare boulevards) come together here.
Matabiau
Close to the station of the same name, this area, the continuation northwards of Wilson, is busy day and night due to the main railway station and surrounding shops.
Further North...
Pont-Jumeaux and Sept-Deniers
Continuing northwest from Arnaud-Bernard, these are residential areas nestling at the mouths of the various waterways (Garonne, Canal du Midi, and a side canal.)
Minimes, Salade, Raisin, Bonnefoy
Nostalgically mentioned in a song by local singer Claude Nougaro, who sings of the "brique rouge des Minimes" (“red bricks of Minimes”), this area running along the Canal du Midi from the other side of Chalets is mainly an administrative and residential one, just like neighboring areas Salade and Bonnefoy. Close by, the Raisin quarter is constantly busy with traffic generated by its bus and railway stations.
Eastwards
Saint-Georges
Built around the historic Place Saint-Georges, this pretty area charms visitors as a picturesque and colorful neighborhood. Many shops, restaurants, and bars have long been established here. Saint-Georges continues eastwards to the Saint-Aubin quarter.
Saint-Aubin
With the beautiful Saint-Aubin Church surrounded each Sunday by a bustling market, this picturesque area safeguards a less urban lifestyle, much appreciated by its inhabitants. The people who live on Rue de la Colombette have even declared their street as "commune dans la ville", or “the village in the city”, and throw a joyful party to celebrate this community every autumn.
Saint-Etienne
The greenest portion of the city is also the perfect location to go for a walk. First explore its historical offerings with the magnificent Saint-Etienne Cathedral, which retains its original architecture, the Monument à la Gloire de la Résistance (Memorial to the French Resistance), and the Halle aux Grains (Corn Exchange), which stands on the Place Dupuy. Next, a relaxed stroll through the lovely side-streets and large adjoining parks (Grand-Rond Boulingrin,
Further Eastwards...
Jolimont, Roseraie, Soupetard and Argoulets
By climbing up through these areas towards Gramont, Balma, you realize that Toulouse is built in a “cuvette", or geological basin. These residential areas overlooking the city incorporate many interesting spots, like the Observatoire de Jolimont Observatory (Jolimont Observatory) or the Science and Environment Center.
Guilhemery, Montplaisir, Pont des Demoiselles, Côte Pavée, Terrasse
The areas of Guilhemery and Montplaisir link the Canal du Midi to Côte Pavée, which is a particularly wealthy area whose spacious, beautiful, and very finely built houses with huge shaded gardens sit on a hill overlooking the city. Moving further south-east, you come to the outlying areas of Montaudran, l’Ormeau, et la Terrasse, where the Cité de l'Espace (Space Village) and Montaudran airfield are situated.
To the South
Carmes and antique dealers
A bohemian and somewhat old-fashioned atmosphere reigns in Les Carmes, an old part of Toulouse very close to the Capitol. The pretty, pedestrian streets are pleasant to wander through as you admire its small squares, towers, and fine buildings. It will lead you to an area filled with antique shops - always a favourite with visitors - or towards the banks of the Garonne with their beautiful buildings.
Further South...
Saint-Michel and Busca, St Agne and Rangueil
Close to the Saint-Michel area of the city, whose north side is marked by the Place du Salin, the Busca area is joined on the south side by the Saouze-Loung and St Agne areas to Rangueil, which adapts to the comings and goings of its mainly student population. The university and schools here make it a city within a city. The splendor of the nearby Château Bellevue offers a striking contrast between the city’s classical and modern influences.
Ramier, Recollets, Empalot, Pech-David
The Garonne divides as it flows under the Saint-Michel bridge, creating the two branches that surround Ramier island. Huge complexes have been built in the middle, taking advantage of the wide-open space available: the Parc des Expositions (Exhibition Centre), the Stadium, and Ramier Park. The two branches of the river come together again to the south, near the Empalot area, which is close to the Science faculties and Pech-David hill.
Westwards and the areas on the left bank
Saint-Cyprien and Bourrasol
In tune with the river, life in these areas is more carefree. Joined to the epicenter of Toulouse by the Saint-Pierre bridge and the
Further westwards...
Purpan, Casselardit, Croix-de-Pierre, Arènes, Mirail
These are the industrial areas of Casselardit and St-Martin-du-Touch. Saint-Cyprien leads you towards the hustle and bustle of the shops in Patte-d'Oie, and then towards the areas of Arènes and Croix-de-Pierre, where Rapas cemetery and the Ecole Normale (a teacher training center) are situated. To the south-west, after Fontaine-Lestang, the industrial and residential areas of La Faourette, Bagatelle, Bellefontaine, Reynerie, Papus and le Mirail open onto the greenery of the Ramée sports and recreation park.
