The city of Toulouse in southwestern France is famous with vacationers for the wide range of Toulouse things to do. This picturesque city, which houses a mere 439,453 inhabitants, is situated on the banks of the River Garonne. Here, visitors are mainly attracted to the city’s museums, religious sites and other quaint structures that offer a good historical angle of Toulouse.

Visit Basilique St.Sernin

The Basilica of St.Sernin is a famous attraction in Toulouse, as it happens to be the largest standing Roman church in the world. Its name was derived from Saint Saturnin, who was a Christian martyr and was once tied to a bull and dragged to his death in A.D. 250. The basilica that houses the remains of this saint has a brickwork exterior, a tympanum over the main door that depicts the ascension of Jesus, two crypts, and roughly 800 sculpted column heads.

Musée des Augustins

Visit the Musée des Augustins, which is a actually a monastery that dates back to the 14th and 15th centuries. It now houses Toulouse’s medieval sculptures of the Romanesque and Gothic kind, as well as some paintings which include works from the Dutch and Italian schools and pieces by Le Perugin and other French artists. Here, you can go on a guided tour or lecture and learn more about the history of culture of Toulouse.

Theatre du Capitole

Visit the Theatre du Capitole to catch an ongoing opera or ballet show in the city’s main and most well known opera house. This opera house dates back almost four centuries, and has come to be known for its wide range of performances that include opera, operettas, recitals, ballets and chamber music.

Sample Toulouse Fare

Toulouse is well known for its gastronomy and wine selections. Most of its restaurants offer great French food. A must-try when in Toulouse is the renowned cassoulet stew, made of duck, pork, goose and beans. A not-to-be-missed venue for a relaxing café experience is the Place Arnaude Bernard.

Walk around Town

Enjoy the medieval atmosphere of Toulouse by walking around the town’s many parks and gardens such as the Jardin Compans-Caffarelli and the Jardin des Plantes. You will be taken up by the city’s eclectic and old-fashioned architecture. Also, take a boat trip along the Canal du Midi, which happens to be a UNESCO World Heritage site.