The Perfect Introduction to the Town of Toulouse
As Lonely Planet puts it: “Toulouse might just be France’s most overlooked city.” Known as “La Ville Rose” (the Pink City) thanks to the dusky‑pink bricks used in many of its buildings, it is France’s fourth‑largest metropolis and home to one of the country’s biggest universities outside Paris. Other nicknames for Toulouse include the City of Violets and the Cité Mondine.
This vibrant southern city boasts a lively cultural scene, a beautiful old quarter packed with hôtels particuliers (private mansions), and a glorious setting at the meeting point of the Canal du Midi and the River Garonne. Add some of southwest France’s finest food markets and restaurants, and it becomes hard to imagine a trip to France that doesn’t include a few days in Toulouse.
Meet your English‑speaking licensed tour guide
Today, meet your licensed tour guide directly at your accommodation or hotel lobby. Specialised in private tours and historical walking tours of Toulouse, your guide will help you explore the history of the Pink City and reveal its rich cultural heritage at your own pace.
Visit Saint‑Sernin Basilica
Begin your walk with a visit to the Basilica of Saint‑Sernin, one of the finest churches on the medieval pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela in Spain and a masterpiece of Romanesque art. Built between the 11th and 13th centuries, this UNESCO World Heritage site is constructed in the red brick typical of Toulouse and features a five‑aisled nave and three‑aisled transept.
Discover the basilica’s remarkable architecture, sculpture, and atmosphere with your guide, who will explain its role in the history of pilgrimages and the development of the city. After the visit, continue toward the Couvent des Jacobins.
Visit Couvent des Jacobins
The Couvent des Jacobins is a beautiful example of Southern Gothic architecture, founded as a Dominican monastery in the 13th century. Built between 1260 and 1292 entirely in pink brick, it shares a similar octagonal tower with the Basilica of Saint‑Sernin.
The massive, austere exterior contrasts with the delicate interior. Inside the church, admire the two‑aisled nave and the spectacular ribbed vaulting of the choir, where palm‑tree‑shaped columns branch into elegant ribs overhead. Your guide will also introduce you to the cloister and the convent’s role in the religious and intellectual life of medieval Toulouse.
Visit the Capitole, Toulouse Town Hall
End your tour at the Capitole, Toulouse’s town hall, which dominates the city’s main square, Place du Capitole. The name “Capitole” refers both to the Roman Capitol and to the Capitulum, the council of city magistrates. While some of the interior dates back to the 16th century, the current 135‑metre‑long Neoclassical façade in pink brick dates from 1750, with eight columns symbolising the original eight Capitouls (magistrates).
Redesigned in 1995, Place du Capitole is now reserved for pedestrians and has become one of the city’s most popular meeting places. Today, the Capitole houses the city hall, as well as a theatre, an opera company, and a symphony orchestra. Inside, the Salle des Illustres displays 19th‑century paintings and sculptures celebrating famous figures from Toulouse.
Other tour options in Toulouse and beyond
As this is a private tour, your itinerary can be adapted to include other iconic sites, such as the Cathedral, the Saint‑Raymond Museum of Antiquities, or the Bemberg Foundation set in a Renaissance mansion. Your guide can also introduce you to Occitan culture or develop a route focusing on the story of the Cathars.
