Last Updated on January 16, 2025 by myriamoblogger
France is not just Paris, and Paris isn’t the whole of France. Sometimes, it feels like other beautiful French cities are overlooked because of the love that people have for the capital. Today, let me introduce you to Toulouse.
Toulouse, also known as the “pink city,” is a city in the South of France. The city’s nickname, “pink city,” stems from its abundance of pinkish buildings. It is a very cute and modern place, and in 2023 was appointed “City of Music” by UNESCO.
It is also where I was born. With that in mind, it was only natural for me to share with you the best streets to visit in Toulouse, in case you’re looking to hop on a trip to Southern France one day. At the end, I share tips so you can adjust well as a tourist in France.
1. Place Wilson
Let’s begin with Place Wilson. Located near Jean Jaures, Place Wilson is a relaxing area with a cinema, a few restaurants and shops, and a fountain at the centre. Near the fountain, people can choose to sit on the benches and enjoy the company of small birds. It’s a place you would want to go if you just want to chill.
2. Place Du Capitole
Place Du Capitole is the “heart” of Toulouse. As its main square, Capitole serves as a hangout place for sports fans to celebrate wins, it’s a party stall for music lovers and a lucrative venue for market vendors on market days.
But as seen in the picture above, Capitole also has its calm days, and on those quiet days, you would find tourists taking photos or locals simply admiring the views.
If you visit Toulouse, do yourself a favour and visit this main square.
3. Rue De La République
Rue de La République is one of my favourite places in Toulouse. As someone with African origins, sometimes I need specific ingredients to make food that reminds me of home. Right in this street I can find a multitude of African and West indies products. Yum!
Additionally, at Rue de la republique, there are numerous hair shops that caters to afro textured hair. I hope in the future there would be more avenues like this in response to the city’s rich diversity that makes it what it is.
4. Pont-Neuf
Earlier, I mentioned Capitole as Toulouse’s heart, well, Pont-Neuf is the blood that flows through it.
Built from the 15th to 16th century, Pont-Neuf is the city’s emblem that is still standing tall. Today, it is the oldest bridge in Toulouse and one of its most distinctive monuments. Full of history, it is a symbol of the Renaissance.
How to get to those places?
There are many other places in Toulouse worth visiting. What’s amazing though is that all the streets I’ve mentioned are in or near the centre, so it won’t be an issue getting from one street to another even by foot. To get to the city centre alone, the Metro, France’s underground railway system is very reliable.
What if I don’t speak French?
French people are renowned for being poor English communicators, and a lot of foreigners tend to feel nervous about that. In today’s technology era, you shouldn’t feel tense about it. If you have your phone, use Google translation or other translation apps. I used “Papago” when I was in Vietnam and it worked wonders.
Besides that, a lot of locals know some basic English. But friend, I’ll let you in on a little secret.
That is, that as a tourist, knowing a few basic sentences such as “Bonjour”(Hello), “Oui/Non”(Yes, No), “Merci” (Thank you) can go a long way!
Greetings and polite exchanges are super important in France, and the French love to see foreigners make an effort with the language. No matter how basic. Enthusiasm is what matters, really.
Additional tip: Say “Bonjour”(Hello) when you enter a shop and “Au revoir”(Bye) when you leave the shop. By doing that, you’ll fit right in.
If you have any questions about travelling to Toulouse or France in general, ask in the comments below!
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Au revoir!
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