Capital of the French Department of the Haute Garonne and administrative center of the region of the Midi-Pyrenees, Toulouse is one of the largest and most important cities in France. It’s ancient name is Tolosa in the Occitan language.
But to the French, perhaps a more familiar name for the city is “la ville rose” (or “the pink city”). The reason for this seemingly unusual name will be immediately apparent to all visitors to the town, since most of the buildings are constructed in a flamboyant pink brick, typical of the region.
Toulouse is situated at 141m above sea level on the banks of the river Garon, with its source in the nearby Pyrenees mountains, which on clear days are easily visible to the south. Its location centrally located in southern France means that Toulouse is subject to both Mediterranean and Oceanic influences, thus it has a temperate climate, mild in autumn and hot and dry in summer.
The region is also at the crossroads of three dominant winds: the wind from the west, typically bringing humidity from the Atlantic Ocean; the wind from the south-east, also known as the “Autan”, especially hot and dry; and the wind from the north, less frequent and typically cold and dry. The Autan wind is often called “the wind that makes you mad”, or “the devil’s wind”, since it affects everything with its stormy passage, including the behaviour of humans and animals. It is considered to “annoy”. But indeed days when the Autan wind blows are not considered to be much better, and are not the most auspicious times to meet up with the locals!
More than a metropolis, Toulouse is a major technology center specializing in aeronautics, aerospace, telecommunications and medicine. The city is also the European capital of the aerospace industry. Yet she continues to diversify, particularly in the domain of medical research, with the planned “Canceropole”. Toulouse is also the next largest university town after Paris.
From a historical perspective, Toulouse also possesses several major features, perhaps the oldest being the bridge known as the “Pont-Neuf” (actually “New Bridge” in English), and also of course the renowned Canal du Midi which passes right through the center of the town. Both were constructed during the seventeenth century. Then there is the incredible Capitole edifice, constructed in the eighteenth century. There is also a huge amount of more contemporary history, such as the impressive Aerospatiale works, created in 1927, for which guided tours are available.
Toulouse is also the weather capital of France and is home to the national meteorological center. It was set up in the city in 1982 and since then has been responsible for predicting the weather for the whole of the country.
Toulouse is also known for violets, which are cultivated there both for the flowers and for their perfume.
A city boasting a rich heritage, a major French center of culture with many museums and festivals, known throughout France and indeed the whole of Europe, Toulouse is today a major tourist destination. In Toulouse, it’s impossible to avoid contact with cultural centers, such as the Congress Center, the Mediatheque Jose Cabanis, the Zenith, The Abattoirs museum of modern art, the “Cite de l’Espace” and the National Theatre. The Capitole museum with its superb “Salle des Illustres” is a necessary visit!
A particular mention is worth making of the Cite de l’Espace – a huge area just on the periphery of the city which opens up quite literally a whole universe of space, stars and space travel, by means of some creative animations and reconstructions. Take a look inside the Russian space station, Mir, or an Arianne rocket. Then go and view space in the impressive IMAX 3D cinema, not forgetting of course the planetarium, an incredible simulation of the universe.
As for high culture, there’s lots to be found in Toulouse. Perhaps most impressively, the Capitole Theatre provides a memorable encounter not only with the world-famous Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, but also the impressive Toulouse Opera and ballet companies. The orchestra itself became renowned under the leadership of Michel Plasson, it’s chief conductor for many years, with a wide-ranging repertoire ranging from the Baroque to contemporary performances. Today it is in the capable hands of the young Ossetian conductor Tugan Sokhiev, trained in St Petersburg.