1 Day Through the Romanticism of Toulouse

Start the day in the city’s heart, the magnificent Capitol Square, which houses the Toulouse City Hall and the National Capitol Theatre.

Rent a bike and pedal up the Léon Gambetta Street, towards the River Garonne. Along the wooded banks, find the Notre-Dame-de-la-Daurade's Basilica and the School Of Fine Arts.

Cross the beautiful Neuf Bridge and across the river, discover the imposing Hôtel-Dieu Saint-Jacques, former hospital of Toulouse, where now runs the Museum of the History of Medicine.

Time to return to the city centre! Cross the River Garonne again, this time by Saint-Pierre Bridge. Climb the Pargaminières Street and recover energy in the many restaurants of the beautiful President Thomas Wilson Square. Ask for a Cassoulet, typical dish of the region, made with dried beans and various types of meat.

The early afternoon is the perfect time to visit the Augustins Museum, also known as Toulouse Museum of Fine Arts. Discover ancient paintings and one of France’s most important collections of medieval sculptures, installed in an impressive Gothic monastery from 1309.

At the exit, go through the shops and boutiques of d'Alsace-Lorraine Street, one of the busiest commercial areas of the city. Stop in one of the several terraces and taste a Petit Gâteau accompanied by a refreshing Panaché.

Already so close, be sure to make a stop at the unavoidable Saint-Sernin Square and discover one of the largest Romanesque churches in Europe. The Saint-Sernin Basilica was one of the most important pilgrimage sites of the West during the Middle Ages. At its feet, you can visit the traditional Saint-Sernin Market, every Saturday and Sunday mornings.

End a busy day with some quiet, with a tour through the Canal du Midi, a 360 km long artificial sea channel, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. Built in the seventh century to transport goods avoiding the open sea, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.