Things to do in Toulouse
Toulouse's cultural and architectural heritage clusters mainly in the Old Town. Here you'll find art museums in Renaissance mansions, like the charming Hôtel Assézat, and great medieval churches, including the huge Basilique St-Sernin. For modern art, cross the Garonne on Pont Neuf to Musée des Abattoirs, on the Left Bank. Most museums are closed Monday. In East Toulouse, thrilling Space City celebrates the European Space Programme.
Musée des Abattoirs
Fascinating contemporary art
Musée des Abattoirs, on the Left Bank, is among France's leading modern art
museums with a major collection of late 20th-century work. It hosts numerous
fascinating exhibitions. Curiously, its most famous item is the spectacular
pre-War stage curtain by Picasso.
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Cost
€5-€10; concessions & children free-€3
Opening Hours
Wed-Fri 10am-6pm; Sat-Sun 11am-7pm
Address
76, allées Charles-de-Fittes, Toulouse 31300
Telephone
+33 (0) 5 62 48 58 00
Musée des Augustins
Impressive fine arts museum
The Musée des Augustins is a magnificent fine arts museum housed in an
impressive 14th-century former Augustinian monastery in the Old Town. Works
by Ingres, Monet, Toulouse-Lautrec and Rodin number among the 17th-20th
century European paintings and sculpture on display.
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Cost
€3; concessions €1.50
Opening Hours
Daily 10am-6 pm (until 9pm Wed)
Address
21, rue de Metz, Toulouse 31000
Telephone
+33 (0) 5 61 22 21 82
Hôtel d'Assezat
Eclectic fine art collection
Georges Bemberg's eclectic personal collection of fine art is displayed in
the charming Hôtel d'Assézat, a beautiful 16th-century Renaissance mansion
in the Old Town. Ranging from Renaissance to post-Impressionist, it includes
more than 30 paintings by Pierre Bonnard.
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Cost
€5; concessions & children €3
Opening Hours
Tue-Sun 10am-12.30pm & 1.30pm-6pm (until 9pm Thu)
Address
Place d'Assézat, Toulouse 31000
Telephone
+33 (0) 5 61 12 06 89
Basilique St-Sernin
Majestic pilgrimage church
Basilique St-Sernin, an awesome brick-and-stone church in the Old Town with a
soaring, octagonal spire, is the largest Romanesque building in the Western
world. Inside, you'll find an exceptional array of holy relics.
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Cost
Free (crypt 2€)
Opening Hours
Mon-Sat 8.30am-11.45am & 2pm-5.45pm; Sun 8.30am-12.30pm & 2pm-7pmJun Daily 8.30am-12.15pm & 2pm-6.15pm (Sun until 7pm) Jul-Sep Daily 8.30am-6.15pm (Sun until 7.30pm). Crypt opens 10am
Address
Place Saint-Sernin, Toulouse 31000
Telephone
+33 (0) 5 61 21 70 18
Transport
Capitole metro
Place du Capitole
Majestic main square
The majestic Place du Capitole, at the heart of the Old Town, has been the
city's lively focal point for centuries. Enclosed by arcades, it is
dominated by the Capitole building with its ornate 70m-long Salle des
Illustrés gallery inside.
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Cost
Free
Opening Hours
Open 24 hours; Capitole open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm (first Sun of the month only from 10am)From Easter to All Saints' Day Mon-Fri 9am-7pm; Sat-Sun 10am-7pm
Address
Place du Capitole, Toulouse 31000
Transport
Capitole metro
Space City
Interactive space park
Celebrating the city's role as capital of the European Space Programme, the
exciting Space City (Cité de l'Espace) in East Toulouse unwraps the
universe's secrets. Astonishing replicas on display include the Mir Space
Station and Ariane 5 space rocket.
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Cost
€19.50-€22; concessions €16-€19.50; children €13-€14.50
Opening Hours
Daily 9.30am-5pm (until 7pm Jul-Aug); occasionally closed
Address
BP 5855, avenue Jean Gonord, Toulouse 31506
Telephone
+33 (0) 8 20 37 72 23
Church of The Jacobins
Gothic spired landmark
With its tall, graceful octagonal spire of arches dominating the Old Town,
the Church of The Jacobins is a distinctive landmark. This beautiful
13th-century Gothic church with red brick cloisters, its interior supported
by elegant pillars, hosts concerts and exhibitions.
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Cost
Free; cloister €3
Opening Hours
Daily 9am-7pm
Address
69, rue Pargaminières, Toulouse 31000
Telephone
+33 (0) 5 61 22 21 92
Pont Neuf
17th-century bridge with city views
Despite the name (New Bridge), the 17th-century Pont Neuf is the city's
oldest bridge over the River Garonne. An easy diversion from Old Town
strolling or sightseeing, it gives an especially lovely view of the
rosy-hued city centre.
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Opening Hours
Daily 24 hours
Address
Toulouse 31000
Transport
Esquirol metro
Riverside Walk
City views from the river
A peaceful Riverside Walk from Pont Neuf to Pont St Pierre offers views of
the Old Town, which rises from the right bank of the wide River Garonne.
Cross over to the left bank to find a popular park with more
away-from-it-all waterside relaxation.
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Opening Hours
24 hours daily
Address
Pont Neuf, Toulouse 31000
Transport
Esquirol metro
